Sheffield United chief explains Sander Berge departure as Burnley transfer announced

Sheffield United have confirmed that they offered Sander Berge a new contract at Bramall Lane before sanctioning his departure to their Premier League rivals Burnley, on the eve of the new season.

Berge was in the final year of his contract at Bramall Lane and follows star man Iliman Ndiaye out the door in another transfer blow for boss Paul Heckingbottom ahead of this weekend’s season opener, which sees Crystal Palace visit Bramall Lane.

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United could not persuade the Norwegian, who was scheduled to become a free agent next summer, to sign a new contract at Bramall Lane and consequently “reluctantly accepted Burnley’s latest, undisclosed, bid”, according to a club statement this evening.

“We did not want to lose Sander, particularly this close to the start of the Premier League season, but after the player expressed a strong interest to leave, we spoke to Burnley to get the best possible deal for Sheffield United,” said Blades chief executive Stephen Bettis.

“Since his arrival at the club, Sander has been a popular member of the squad and it was hoped he would once again shine at Bramall Lane in the Premier League. Unfortunately, along with his representatives, he has opted to move to Burnley and we would like to place on record our thanks for his service over the past three and a half years.”

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Berge suggested that Burnley’s “project” and “ambitions” convinced him to make the move to Lancashire after his move from fellow Premier League new-boys Sheffield United was confirmed.

While the chance to work under Kompany was understood to be an attraction for the 25-year-old, he said: “I have heard a lot of good things about the club and seeing the success from outside last season, there’s a great project building here. It’s a great environment full of young talented players from all around the world, so I just think it’s the perfect fit for me. The club has high ambitions, making several signings and it all just fits into what I’m looking for.”

Speaking to Talksport before the news was officially announced, Heckingbottom admitted he is “hugely disappointed” by Berge’s departure. “The timing of it, and the fact he’s going,” he added. “In my mind I’d prepared for both [Berge and Ndiaye] a long time ago and drawn up plans and presented them to the club, saying this is what needs to happen.

“The problem is that when you leave it this long, everything’s changed in terms of your targets so that’s always been moving. The club have been told, they know who we want to bring in and the sooner we do it, the better.”

Asked if United could have done more to prevent vast swathes of their first-team squad approaching the end of their deals at the same time, Heckingbottom replied: “I’m not going into that as I’ll probably say something that gets me into trouble, but everyone knows the situation we’re in, I wasn’t privy to those conversations but we have got a lot of players in the last year of their contracts, we know that, and it becomes a problem.”