Sheffield United considering transfer lifeline for former £11m man just months after Rangers exit
Rabbi Matondo has struggled for minutes since joining SK Brann in April and Sheffield United are among the clubs considering offering the Wales international an escape route this summer
Sheffield United are considering offering Rabbi Matondo a lifeline in English football after just a few months at his current club in Norway. The winger joined SK Brann from Rangers in April this year.
But he has played just 30 minutes since, across three appearances, and has now been told he is free to explore opportunities elsewhere at a new club. The 25-year-old operates primarily on the left flank, a position the Blades are keen to strengthen ahead of the new season.
Matondo cost Bundesliga club Schalke 04 a reported £11m when he signed in 2019 and he has been capped 15 times by Wales, despite being born in Liverpool. He has prior experience in the Championship, too, joining Stoke on loan from the German side in 2021.
He played 11 times for Stoke in the second half of that season, scoring once in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. He then had a successful loan at Cercle Brugge in Belgium before moving to Rangers, admitting that his time in Glasgow was “ruined” due to injuries.
He is confident that with a run of games his fitness frustration can be put behind him, although that is not expected to happen at Brann. Speaking to Norwegian outlet Bergens Tidende earlier this month he said: "It's a shame. I wanted to show myself to the fans. Now it looks like I might not get the opportunity to do that in Brann."
Sporting director Per-Ove Ludvigsen also told Bergens Tidende: "For now, we assume that he has a contract until the end of the year. So we will see how things develop for all parties in the coming weeks/months."
United’s interest in Matondo was first reported by major Norwegian outlet Bergensavisen. It is currently unclear whether United are considering a permanent or loan move. Rangers inserted a range of clauses into his free transfer switch to Norway, including a sell-on.