The midfielder Djibril Soumaré of Braga is getting closer to joining Sheffield United
The player is expected to join on loan with a buyout clause at the end of the season, according to Portuguese publication Record.
Vini Souza left the team earlier in the summer, so Ruben Selles is trying to expand his midfield options.
While on loan from Braga, the 22-year-old made 23 appearances for Nacional in the league last season, helping the team finish 14th with one goal and one assist.
Decision on Djibril Soumaré’s transfer
When asked about Soumaré’s impending arrival, FLW’s Sheffield United fan pundit Jimmy from Blades Ramble stated that the Senegalese international will provide defensive stability to their midfield options.
However, he expects competition for minutes in Selles’ side to be fierce, with players such as Sydie Peck and a returning Ollie Arblaster to select from.
“We know a little bit about Djibril Soumaré because we’ve heard the rumours, so I’ve done a bit of research and we’ve spoken about him on the Blades Ramble,” Jimmy said to Football League World.
“Is he a replacement for Vini Souza?” I don’t think so, specifically.
| Djibril Soumaré – Nacional league goals and appearances (per Fbref.com) | ||||
| Season | Appearances (Starts) | Goals (Assists) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 23 (21) | 1 (1) | ||
“I believe he will be required to do a task similar to Souza’s, which is to be the ball-winner in the middle of the park.
“So if he can take the ball from someone and pass it to Gus Hamer, Louie Barry, or someone who can do some magic, Callum O’Hare, that is his role.
“Do the unpretty things well, keep it neat and tidy, and keep it simple; that is what we need in the middle.
“The one thing I’ll say is that we already have a very strong center midfield with Sydie Peck and Ollie Arblaster returning from injury.
“The competition will be tough.
“They obviously believe there is something to this lad because we are allegedly paying just over €1 million (£870,000) in loan fees, and the commitment to buy him for up to €10 million (£8.6) is significant.
“Again, trust the process and the club, and we’ll see.
“But based on what we’ve seen, he looks like a player, so bring him in.
“Let’s have a look at him and see what he can do.”
Sheffield United’s season begins on August 9 at home against Bristol City.
Sheffield United require a defensive option in midfield.
Losing Souza was a blow for Sheffield United, given how impressive he was for the team last season, and his departure is the result of the club’s failure to gain promotion.
His departure necessitates midfield reinforcements, and bringing in someone more defensively minded, such as Soumaré, makes sense given their existing attacking alternatives.
Soumaré’s loan fee is also reasonable, and he will have one season to prove he is worth the cost of the obligation to buy.
While the midfielder’s passing statistics aren’t particularly impressive, having someone carry the defensive load in midfield may help bring out the best in others, such as Peck and Arblaster at Bramall Lane.
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