Sander Berge Sheffield United transfer exit clarified after reports Paul Heckingbottom unaware of deal

Bramall Lane source clarifies Sander Berge situation after national newspaper report
Danny Hall
By Danny Hall
Published 6th Mar 2024, 18:05 GMT
Burnley's Norwegian midfielder #16 Sander Berge runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Burnley at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on December 30, 2023. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE.Burnley's Norwegian midfielder #16 Sander Berge runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Burnley at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on December 30, 2023. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE.
Burnley's Norwegian midfielder #16 Sander Berge runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Burnley at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on December 30, 2023. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE.

Sheffield United did not go behind boss Paul Heckingbottom's back in the summer to sell star man Sander Berge to relegation rivals Burnley, a club source told The Star this evening. The Norwegian international left Bramall Lane shortly before the start of the season, after entering the final year of his contract.

United were forced into a similar cut-price deal for Iliman Ndiaye close to the start of the new campaign after he too entered the final 12 months of his present agreement, with owner Prince Abdullah taking the decision to sell both rather than risk losing the pair for free this summer. A national newspaper report this week suggested that the Berge deal had been completed without Heckingbottom's knowledge, which a Bramall Lane insider this evening refuted when approached by The Star.

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United turned down bids from Burnley earlier in the window but sources claim that Heckingbottom was kept "fully aware" of the situation and that Gustavo Hamer, of Coventry, had been agreed as a replacement target should Berge leave the Lane. Berge was one of United's highest-earners, as their previous record signing, but was not willing to discuss a contract extension - leading to the decision to sell him in the summer transfer window.

United maintain that they attempted to contact Heckingbottom on the evening the deal was agreed, but the manager was known for locking away his phone in the evenings to avoid distractions and he discovered the news the following morning.

The Times article, which was incorrectly attributed to former footballer Gregor Robertson and caused widespread debate amongst Unitedites, also claimed that a senior player knocked on Heckingbottom's door to report that morale amongst his squad was low after the summer transfer business, which saw United opt to look to the future rather than sign Premier League-ready players after owner Prince Abdullah handed Heckingbottom a meagre £20m budget for permanent transfers.

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