Sheffield United facing delicate dilemma over duo’s futures amid top-flight transfer interest from elsewhere
Sheffield United facing delicate dilemma over duo’s futures amid top-flight transfer interest from elsewhere
Sheffield United are facing an intriguing contract dilemma over two of their young starlets after reports of interest, both at home and abroad. The Blades are rightly proud of their youth academy and four graduates of it will be named on the teamsheet at Millwall tomorrow.
But the performances of United’s players always has the danger of alerting rival clubs to their abilities and just this week, both winger Andre Brooks and right-back Femi Seriki have been linked with moves elsewhere.
The pair have formed a formidable partnership down the right wing this season and were in dangerous form again last time out against Ipswich Town, when Brooks scored the Blades’ second goal in an impressive 3-1 win.
Belgian side Club Brugge, who can also offer Champions League football, have this week been credited with interest in Brooks while Premier League side Everton are said to be keeping tabs on Seriki’s situation as a potential alternative to Brooke Norton-Cuffy, the former Arsenal right-back now plying his trade in Italy with Genoa.
Sheffield United facing delicate dilemma over duo’s futures amid top-flight transfer interest from elsewhere
United are reluctant to lose either player and The Star has been told that they have slapped a hefty price tag on Brooks’ head in an attempt to ward off any interest. But every player has a price and the situation with the homegrown pair could be complicated by their contract situations.
Both men, as things stand, are set to become free agents in less than 18 months, in the summer of 2027. Manager Chris Wilder is always keen to plan for the short, medium and long term future of United and is likely to have flagged the situation with United’s board before news of the reported interest first broke.
It is uncertain whether talks have officially begun but if and when they do, United will gauge the receptiveness of both the players and their representatives to committing their futures to Bramall Lane.
It is also currently unclear whether either of the deals contain options in the club’s favour, which would only strengthen United’s hand. Brooks is a boyhood Blades fan and long-term member of the United academy before progressing to the first-team while Seriki had a slightly different route, beginning his journey with Bury before signing for United’s youth set-up.