Former Sheffield United target hints why he turned down a move to Bramall Lane

The defender, who was poised to join Milan during the transfer window before the move dramatically collapsed, had appeared destined to join Chris Wilder’s side after Wigan Athletic accepted their £1.9m offer earlier this month.

But Fulham hijacked United’s negotiations by matching that bid and then proposing to pay Robinson nearly £9.5m over the course of his four year contract. Although the former Everton player has been accused in some quarters of putting money over his career prospects - United finished ninth in the Premier League and challenged for a place in Europe last term - Robinson insisted his decision was based on the respective styles of the two teams.

“Fulham play a really nice style of football and I can see myself fitting in perfectly,” he said. “As soon as I heard of the ambitions of the club, it was an easy decision for me.”

Although United also play an expansive and aesthetically pleased brand of football, Wilder’s strategy places huge physical and mental demands on those involved because of its reliance on attacking wing-backs and overlapping centre-halves. Former Nottingham Forest full-back Jack Robinson, who accepted the challenge of mastering it earlier this year, has spoken of how he was forced to improve both his conditioning and concentration levels after covering for the injured Jack O’Connell towards the end of last term.

Providing an insight into how deals are now being finalised in the Covid-19 era - social distancing measures, introduced to curb the spread of the disease, forced the PL and English Football League to revise their fixture calendars earlier this year - Robinson said: “I heard a few days ago that Scott Parker (the Fulham manager) was interested in me and wanted to speak to me personally. We had a Zoom call and he was really keen to get the deal done."

United are now expected to switch their attention towards other targets, with Matty Cash of Nottingham Forest among those on Wilder's wanted list.

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