Sheffield United sent transfer warning over 21-goal striker as reported Plymouth Argyle interest prompts financial reality check
Sheffield United have been told they would need to pay “a lot of money” to sign a reported summer transfer target, who is attracting interest from multiple clubs.
Sheffield United have been warned that they will have to pay “a lot of money” to land a reported transfer target this summer if they follow up their suggested interest in him. The Blades are bracing themselves for a big summer turnover of players, with as many as 19 leaving after a disappointing season.
With boss Chris Wilder already stating his desire to work with reduced numbers next season, nowhere near that many will come through the door. Like the majority of clubs up and down the country, the Blades are also cutting their cloth financially after the Premier League parachute payment tap officially runs dry.
The remit for Wilder as things stand is expected to be loans, frees and small fees, with an intriguing link this weekend suggesting they are one of a few clubs interested in Plymouth Argyle's 20-goal top scorer Lorent Tolaj.
Sheffield United sent transfer warning over 21-goal striker as reported Plymouth Argyle interest prompts summer reality check
The Swiss striker only joined Argyle last August when they spent £1.1m to buy him out of his deal at Port Vale, on a contract until the summer of 2029. But his outstanding form in front of goal in League One has alerted a number of clubs, with journalist Alan Nixon claiming over the weekend that United were interested.
Preston North End and recently-relegated Leicester City were also credited with interest by Nixon, while the likes of Scottish giants Celtic and Belgian side Anderlecht have also previously been linked.
Plymouth still have hopes of joining the Blades in the Championship next season after being relegated last term, and are one of a number of sides still in with a chance of a play-off place ahead of the final game of the campaign this weekend.
But regardless of whether they are promoted or not the Pilgrims are braced for interest in their top scorer, who netted once for Vale this season before moving south. Speaking back in April, boss Tom Cleverley said of the striker: "If you have got a player in your ranks that can turn a draw into a win ... yeah, people will have to pay a lot of money for him."
As Plymouth Live reported recently, Argyle are forecast to lose £10.6 million this season following their relegation from the Championship last term. But owner and chairman Simon Hallett said in a recent interview with the same outlet: "We have value on the balance sheet.
“So at some point we will get the right offer for a player but we literally have been over the budgets today and there is nothing in the budgets for player sales - nothing. Just [to] make that absolutely clear.
“But as ever, if the right bid comes along for any player, we will sell them. Now we are lucky that a number of our more valuable players have long contracts, which means we don't have to sell."
The suggestion is that Tolaj’s Plymouth deal does not have a release clause and given their apparent stance on his future, it would appear the chances of him playing for United are remote as things stand.
"His mentality is completely focused,” Cleverley added. “He has got tunnel vision, to score as many goals and help this team whichever way he can. His mentality is becoming more focused. Our job as coaches for Tolaj is to try and refine and polish strengths. There is no weakness to his game.
"I have played with a couple in my career that are special. When you think: 'This game has got draw written all over it,' but there is a moment and your number nine can get three points. People are going to have to pay a lot of money for him.
"There are so many parts of Tolly's game that I can sit and talk about, and his work for the team, but they are the moments that separate. The ones who can finish like he does and make the real difference, and win you 15 points a season, are the ones that are gold dust."