The state of play with Sheffield United and Sander Berge
and live on Freeview channel 276
Officials at the Championship club have invited offers of at least £35m for Berge, with Arsenal so far expressing the greatest interest.
However, United’s refusal to lower their valuation of a player they signed for £22m only 17 months ago has slowed the negotiation process. Likewise their demand for the proposed deal to be ‘front loaded’ - meaning the majority of the money must be paid up front - rather than being spread over the course of what would probably be at least a four year contract.
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Hide AdWith Berge recently expressing his desire to play Champions League football again after representing Genk in the competition before moving to England, United resigned themselves to losing the 23-year-old after being relegated from the Premier League last season.
As well as Mikel Arteta’s side, Tottenham Hotspur were also invited to open talks about acquiring his services. But, unlike their north London rivals, officials there are thought to have decided against pursuing an interest in a player who has been capped 24 times by his country.
With Berge’s former team mate John Lundstram also electing to move on following United’s demotion, new manager Slavisa Jokanovic has made midfield a priority position during this summer’s transfer window as he looks to construct a squad capable of making an immediate return to the top-flight.
Tom Cairney, who worked with Jokanovic at Fulham, has attracted admiring glances from South Yorkshire. But the £10m Cairney’s employers are demanding means they accept a deal is unlikely - albeit not impossible - as United’s owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his board of directors look to protect United’s financial position following the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Hide AdBerge is also thought to boast a number of potential suitors abroad, having been courted by Napoli before leaving Belgium.
Jokanovic will start work at United next month, when his agreement with Qatari club Al-Gharafa expires. He replaced Chris Wilder at the helm, following the 53-year-old’s departure in March.