The new Sheffield United training centre will be near identical to the one used by Bournemouth.
That’s according to Yorkshire Live, who report that Blades CEO Stephen Bettis even contacted the Dorset club to see what they thought about the design.
Owner Prince Abdullah has given the green light for the development at Shirecliffe. It will include a gym, training area, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy zones, and office facilities.
The building will be developed off-site, before being brought there for construction. This is to minimise disruption to manager Chris Wilder and the first team.
United are clearly so impressed with the facility at Bournemouth that they are even using the same company to build it.
A relationship has evolved between Bettis and Cherries counterpart Neill Blake ever since Aaron Ramsdale moved to the Vitality Stadium in January 2017.
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Since then, there have been several transfer dealings between the two clubs. David Brooks also left Bramall Lane in 2018, while Lys Mousset moved the opposite way a year later.
This summer, Ramsdale completed his return to the Blades following Bournemouth’s relegation to the Championship.
What next after Sheffield United training centre?
There are already two buildings in place at Shirecliffe and the new two-storey complex will sit between them.
Work on it is due to begin this year and be completed in time for the start of 2021.
This is then expected to trigger the move of the club’s academy. Currently based alongside the first team at Shirecliffe, they will relocate to a separate site – with the old RAF Norton Aerodrome having been earmarked.
After that, improvements are also planned at the stadium itself. Pillars will be removed from The Kop to improve the viewing experience for fans.
Hopes were this would be completed ahead of the 2021/22 season. However, the Prince’s delay in taking over the club from former owner Kevin McCabe, as well as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, has delayed that.
There are also long-term plans to increase the capacity at Bramall Lane.