Leeds United are interested in signing Sander Berge this summer to possibly replace Kalvin Phillips, who would mark their seventh Premier League-era transfer from Sheffield United.
That’s according to Dean Jones, who reports the Whites are preparing to lose Phillips with Manchester City targeting his signature. Pep Guardiola is expected to submit a bid for the England midfielder, and a move can gain pace if the offer is close to Leeds’ £50m price tag.
- Crystal Palace’s 22/23 XI with £20M West Ham target leading 4 new signings
- Jude Bellingham and Celtic ace lead Birmingham XI if they ket their top stars
Elland Road chiefs had hoped to retain Phillips for at least one more season after avoiding relegation to the Championship. But confidence within the corridors in West Yorkshire has regressed since the campaign concluded, leaving Victor Orta to identify potential targets.
Leeds are interested in Sheffield United’s Berge as Phillips’ replacement
Whites director of football Orta has a number of players on his shortlist of midfielders who can perhaps replace Phillips. Berge is one that Leeds are interested in, having overcome a hamstring injury to feature in 33 fixtures as Sheffield United made the play-off semi-finals.
Berge also scored six goals and four assists, including netting and creating against eventual play-off winners Nottingham Forest. Yet no team has so far contacted the Blades to discuss the 24-year-old’s availability of late, with the Bramall Lane outfit asking for £25m to cash in.
Sheffield United seeking marginal profit to sell Berge amid Leeds interest
Sheffield United broke their club-record to sign Berge from KRC Genk in January 2020 with a £22m transfer. The Norwegian also penned a four-and-a-half-year, £33k-a-week contract to join the Blades, with whom the 30-cap technician featured in 29 Premier League games.
Chris Wilder also hailed what the Baerum native gave while at Bramall Lane, having signed Berge. He told VG: “Sander has been unique, he is the one who has stood out for us. He is a complete midfielder; he can play as 8s and as 6s, he can play in different formations.”
Jesse Marsch now giving Orta his blessing for Berge to replace Phillips will see the Sheffield United star become the seventh Blades player to join Leeds in the Premier League-era. So, with that in mind, how did the previous six fare after moving from South to West Yorkshire?
Bromby last Sheffield United player to join Leeds amid Berge interest
Leigh Bromby is the most recent Sheffield United player to join Leeds for Berge to possibly now follow amid Orta’s interest. Leeds signed the boyhood Whites fan in September 2009 under former manager Simon Grayson as the club’s third defensive signing of the summer.
The centre-half had helped the Blades to secure promotion into the Premier League during the 2005/06 season. But Kevin Blackwell could not guarantee him a first-team role for the 2009/10 campaign, and Bromby went on to play 66 times for Leeds before retiring in 2013.
Leeds signed Wright on loan from the Blades in 2006
Leeds sealed a month-long loan deal with Sheffield United for Alan Wright in October 2006 under caretaker manager John Carver. The defender would only make one appearance for the Whites, though, before joining Cardiff City and Doncaster Rovers on short-term loans.
Horsfield made short-term loan switch to Elland Road in 2006
Geoff Horsfield made a short-term loan switch to Elland Road from Bramall Lane in August 2006. The Whites agreed the striker’s transfer with the view to a permanent deal, per BBC Sport, but opted against retaining the Barnsley-born ace following two goals in 15 games.
Beesley jumped from South to West Yorkshire in 1995 transfer
Paul Beesley jumped from South to West Yorkshire in 1995 after five years with Sheffield United. The centre-half featured in 123 games whilst on the Blades’ books, and would turn out 29 times for the Whites before the Liverpool-born ace joined Manchester City in 1997.
Leeds launched Sheffield United swoop for Pemberton in 1993
Leeds launched a successful swoop on Sheffield United for John Pemberton in 1993 after three seasons at Bramall Lane. The Blades had signed the centre-half from Crystal Palace after spells at Crewe Alexandra, Rochdale, Chadderton and Manchester United’s academy.
Deane featured in Leeds’ first Premier League-era transfer from Sheffield United
Brian Deane featured in Leeds’ first Premier League-era transfer with Sheffield United back in 1993. The Whites signed the striker after five years at Bramall Lane, and would also later re-sign the Leeds-born player in 2004 after the three-cap England star’s spell at West Ham.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
