Exclusive:Sheffield United star addresses future after breakthrough season, transfer interest and Sheffield Wednesday inspiration
Sheffield United starboy Andre Brooks opens up on his breakthrough season, transfer speculation and an unlikely source of inspiration across the city in this exclusive chat with The Star.
Andre Brooks, the Sheffield United starlet, has insisted he sees his future only at Bramall Lane after a breakthrough season saw him the subject of intense transfer speculation. The 22-year-old’s campaign has been ended prematurely by a knee ligament injury.
But it is still one that he can look back on with personal pride, even if it ended disappointingly for the collective. Brooks has netted six goals from his new right-wing position, adding a couple of assists for good measure.
Despite competition from Tahith Chong and Chieo Ogbene, plus a couple of other teammates also capable of playing out wide, Brooks’ new-found consistency saw him nail down his place after an in-and-out season last term, when United reached the play-off final.
Sheffield United star addresses future after breakthrough season, transfer interest and Sheffield Wednesday inspiration
But that progress did not go unnoticed elsewhere, with United turning down a substantial bid for Brooks in the January transfer window. Belgian side Club Brugge were amongst the clubs monitoring him and United were bracing themselves for more interest this summer.
Those fears may have been allayed a little by Brooks’ injury, which would ordinarily keep him out for a couple of months had it been picked up in the middle of a season rather than right at its end.
United are still keen to tie down both him and fellow academy graduate Femi Seriki to new deals, though, despite the club having an option in both deals - which both currently run to the summer of 2027 - allowing them to extend by another 12 months.
But it will still be a relief to many Unitedites to hear Brooks address his future at Bramall Lane, speaking earlier this week after being named the young player of the year for the entire region at The Star Football Awards.
“To be honest, I don’t really think about that stuff,” he said. “I just concentrate on the day-to-day and do my job, on the pitch. I’m a Sheffield United player and that’s all I’m thinking about right now.”
On the awards night, Brooks watched intently as a montage showing Liam Palmer’s best moments in a Wednesday shirt was played on the big screen as he won a gong of his own. It may have happened across the city but the inspiration - academy graduate to first-team stalwart and club legend - is clear.
“There are a lot of United players who’ve come through the academy and it makes it that little bit more special when that happens,” added Brooks, as another to have trodden that path - former skipper Billy Sharp - walked into the interview room.
“I watched them from the stands and to do that now myself is a dream come true. Hopefully it’s something I can do for a long time to come. I feel like it's my job to make the fans appreciate the game. So when I cross the white line, I just think that I've got to do everything for myself, obviously, and for my family, and make the fans proud.”