Sheffield United’s financial demands in pursuing transfer targets following Ruben Selles’ admission
If Sheffield United is successful in bringing the Atalanta defender to Bramall Lane this summer, the club may be expected to fund the entirety of Ben Godfrey’s substantial weekly wage, according to The Star. The Blades have pursued the former Everton player as they seek central defense reinforcements.
Ruben Selles’ team was already in need of cover in that position heading into the summer, but the situation grew even more pressing this week when Feyenoord signed Anel Ahmedhodzic away from South Yorkshire.
The Blades rejected the Dutch club’s first bid for the Bosnian, we understand, but soon caved in to United’s demands in order to field a centre-back for the first leg of their Champions League qualifying match against Fenerbahçe last night.
Ahmedhodzic did make his debut in that game, which Robin van Persie’s team won 2-1 courtesy to Anis Hadj-Moussa’s 91st-minute goal after Sofyan Amrabat appeared to have saved a draw with an equalizer five minutes earlier.
Sheffield United may face financial demands in pursuing top transfer targets after Selles’ admission
As we reported earlier this week, Hull City defender Charlie Hughes is a target for the Blades, with Ruben Selles confirming as much in his press conference ahead of this weekend’s season opener at home to Bristol City, but the Blades have been put off by the 21-year-old’s high, eight-figure price tag.
Nils Zätterström, the young Swedish international at Malmo, is regarded as a more realistic prospect, and he might be at Bramall Lane before the September 1 transfer deadline. However, Godfrey is being targeted in addition to others.
Godfrey is claimed to be paid in excess of £60,000 per week at Serie A team Atalanta, and the Italians are said to be hesitant to let him go unless the majority, if not all, of that sum is covered by the club that signs him.
That may prove a worthwhile avenue for the Blades as they try to invest some of the monies they earned this week for selling Ahmedhodzic and Kieffer Moore, but it also demonstrates that loan deals, which are frequently derided as “the cheap option” by supporters, can sometimes be anything but.
When asked about United’s interest in Godfrey, Hughes, and Zätterström, Selles said: “It’s obvious we need to strengthen at centre-half, and those three are on our list for various reasons.” Ben is a well-known center back and fullback. He’s extremely powerful for his rank, and everyone wants to have him.
“Charlie Hughes is one of the league’s most talented young players, so we wouldn’t be the only ones linked, and Nils has already made the national team.” Because of my background, I am particularly interested in the Scandinavian market, and any good player is on our radar. However, nothing is concrete yet.
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