Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has confirmed a deal for QPR attacker Luke Freeman is close, reports the Sheffield Star.
Apparently the Blades will complete the signing of Freeman within the next 24 hours. How much the 27-year-old will costs is unclear, with West London Sport reporting United have already had a £4m offer rejected.
The R’s are holding out for “significantly more” as Freeman is under contract at Loftus Road until 2021 after extending his deal last summer.
That was amid interest from Middlesbrough in the forward. Freeman later admitted that he had been tempted by Boro.
“It was difficult. I’d be lying if I said my head wasn’t turned, because to some extent it was,” the former Arsenal trainee told West London Sport.
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“When you’re a player and there’s the possibility of joining a club that might well be in the Premier League next season, of course that’s something you think about.
“Every player wants to play in the Premier League and I’m not going to lie and say it wasn’t on my mind when that (interest in him) was happening.”
Luke Freeman to become first Sheffield United signing
(Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)
Following their promotion to the top flight the Blades are yet to actually sign any new players. They are about to head off to a pre-season training camp in Portugal and Wilder wants as many new recruits as possible in before they leave.
It was when asked about this in a press conference that the 51-year-old confirmed a deal for Freeman was close.
The good sign is Rangers have already moved to replace him. They signed Luke Amos and Matt Smith on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City respectively.
After Freeman there is still the desire to sign a striker, defender and goalkeeper. Hopefully his arrival at Bramall Lane will open the floodgates.
Freeman has the ability to play as an attacking midfielder or slightly deeper. This versatility will be hugely beneficial to Wilder as he looks to bolster his options.
