Unseen Sheffield United man could make swift Bramall Lane transfer exit after intriguing Fabrizio Romano update
Unseen Sheffield United man could make swift Bramall Lane transfer exit after intriguing Fabrizio Romano update
Another signing from Sheffield United’s disastrous summer spending spree could be set to leave Bramall Lane this month - without ever kicking a ball for the Blades. United infamously identified a number of players from abroad using data from would-be Wednesday owner James Bord’s company of late.
But none have come anywhere near close to being successful, with Swedish defender Nils Zatterstrom joining fellow wildcard signings Mihail Polendakov, Christian Nwachukwu and Ehije Ukaki at Bramall Lane after signing from Malmo.
Bizarrely Zatterstrom could only arrive at United after they moved on another of their AI-led signings, with Peruvian winger Jefferson Caceres joining Dunfermline - co-owned by Bord - to free up a spot on the four-player roster available to United to sign players who don’t automatically qualify for a work permit.
Zatterstrom, a one-cap international with Sweden, has not played a minute for the Blades’ first team and was expected to leave Bramall Lane this window to further his development elsewhere - but any deal could signal the end of his short United career on a permanent basis.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano this evening, Serie A strugglers Genoa are in “advanced talks” to sign Zatterstrom this month, with “talks ongoing over a loan move with buy option clause.”
The fee United paid Malmo for Zatterstrom was never officially confirmed but Romano reported in the summer that the deal was worth €3.3m. The Star understands that the Swede was at United’s training ground this morning [Tuesday] but his Blades career may be coming to an end.
Meanwhile another young United defender’s immediate future is more settled, with Jamal Baptiste seeing out the season at neighbouring Rotherham United. The former Manchester City man has impressed at the New York Stadium after his summer loan move.
That form had attracted interest from other clubs amid the Millers’ relegation battle but he turned down offers from elsewhere out of loyalty to manager Matt Hamshaw. United are happy with Baptiste’s development and opted not to recall him this month.