Exclusive:Sheffield United make Oli McBurnie transfer move amid Swansea City, Hull City, Ipswich Town interest
Exclusive: Sheffield United wait for Oli McBurnie decision after making transfer move for £20m man
Sheffield United could discover soon whether their approach to former striker Oli McBurnie has been successful after lodging an official offer to re-sign the £20m striker this summer. The Scottish international forward is a free agent after his contract with Spanish side Las Palmas came to an end following their relegation from La Liga last term.
As we revealed earlier this week United have held discussions with McBurnie’s camp about a return for the striker, who became United’s record signing at the time when he made a £20m move from Swansea City in 2019.
McBurnie has taken his time to consider his next move, with a host of English sides rivalling the Blades for his services including newly-relegated Ipswich Town.
Swansea are known to be admirers while Hull City are also keen on a free transfer move for the 29-year-old.
We revealed earlier this summer that McBurnie’s name remained inked on United’s list of potential transfer targets, and that the striker remained an option for new boss Ruben Selles after the Spaniard replaced McBurnie’s former manager Chris Wilder at the helm.
McBurnie’s potential path to Bramall Lane may be cleared by Kieffer Moore’s departure, with Wrexham keen on the Welsh international. But the Blades want to sort the 32-year-old’s replacement before they sanction his exit, to avoid potentially being left short when the season begins next weekend.
Speaking earlier this week, as per HullLive, Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic said: “I would like to have Oli McBurnie.
“He would bring everything that we need – leadership, experience, and he knows the Championship. Plus goals. I hope the goals; we need goals. I believe, yes [we can get it done]. I believe that the EFL will help us.”
The Tigers were placed under transfer restrictions by the English Football League earlier this summer, but have pushed through a number of deals already this summer and have tied up a loan deal for ex-Blades man John Lundstram, from Trabzonspor.
The salary cap placed on Hull by the EFL is understood to have been lifted, after discussions between the league and former Blades man Jared Dublin, now the Tigers’ sporting director. United’s Yorkshire rivals still have to ensure they comply with profit and sustainability rules but HullLive report that a contract in principle has been agreed with McBurnie’s camp.
The striker has made no secret of his affection for the Blades and was keen to return to Bramall Lane in January this year, before the prospect of a loan exit was blocked by Las Palmas. In his last season at Championship level, in 2022/23, he scored 15 goals in all competitions and netted five times in La Liga last term.
Speaking just before United’s play-off final defeat to Sunderland back in May, McBurnie admitted of his future: “I just need to get home and spend some time with the family. It’s been lovely being out here but at the same time it’s also hard being away from the family so much. I’ll talk it over with the missus, and talk about what we want to do.”