Sheffield United will not be bullied into selling Sander Berge on the cheap and have set their asking price at over £35m for the Norway midfielder.
That’s according to the Sheffield Star, who claim United will stick to their guns when it comes to key players. It is believed that while some players may leave, Slavisa Jokanovic has been assured the club is not under pressure to sell.
And that means sticking to their guns over Berge. The big midfielder has a release clause of around £35m, which has been widely reported.
The Blades board are said to be determined to get that fee for Berge if he does leave, with Arsenal loitering with intent. We reported last month that Arsenal had apparently already bid £17m for Berge. An offer which was, expectedly, swiftly rejected.
Berge arrived at United for around £22m back in January of 2020. However, he saw his progress stunted first by Covid, and then by an injury this season.
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But he returned towards the back end of the campaign. And if he stays put, Berge is likely to play a key role for the Blades in the Championship.
Sheffield Utd News View: Good to see the club doing this with Sander Berge, it’s about time
Followers of United for a long period of time will know that this is a change in philosophy. For so long we have sold our best players for next to nothing.
Deane and Fjortoft, Walker and Naughton, and recently Maguire and Calvert-Lewin, have all gone for relatively small fees. So on that side, it is good to see the club digging their heels.
But time will also tell. If someone does come in with a huge bid of just below £30m or so, then the board could creek. Only then, will we truly see if Prince Abdullah and his team are true to their word.
But for now, it’s looking good in terms of the summer.