Ante Budimir: A striker with an economics degree who can leave if the price is right – who is Sheffield United’s latest 'target'?

The forward joined Mallorca in 2019 for just £2m, and was reportedly a target for Barcelona before the coronavirus pandemic hit when Ousmane Dembele’s injury left them short upfront.

But Barca are said to have been put off by Budimir's €40m release clause, and signed former Middlesbrough striker Martin Braithwaite instead.

After Mallorca's relegation from La Liga last season, Budimir could move for a much lower fee - and Mallorca boss Luis García Plaza certainly is not planning for life with the striker, who recently received his first call-up to the Croatian national team.

"The club has told me that Budimir will leave if the money that is asked for him arrives," he said, after his side's 0-0 draw at RCD Espanyol.

"There's no case against Budimir. When he tells me he's okay, he'll be good to go. He's our player until otherwise is said.”

He scored 13 goals in La Liga, and netted twice at the Camp Nou in a 5-2 defeat to Barcelona in December. Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez scored Barca's goals that day.

Still only 29, Budimir was also reportedly a target for Seville in the summer and his highlights reel on YouTube from the 2019/20 season shows a variety of goals from the tall, rangey forward - scored with both feet, and his head.

Budimir also took advantage of his spare time during the Covid-19 lockdown to study for a degree in economics, after being encouraged by his older sisters.

“They were studying it and told me they would help me," Budimir said.

"That gave me the confidence to do it and honestly, I’m really enjoying it. I like to learn new things and not relax. Combined with professional football, it hasn’t always been easy to finish work in a timely manner.

“The rules at the university in Croatia where I study are very strict and you’ve got to do the exams in person. One of the good things about the pandemic is that it can now be done online."

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