After the season from hell at Bramall Lane, interim manager Paul Heckingbottom had some welcome good news for those long-suffering Sheffield United supporters.
Well, it would be good news. If they believed it.
Speaking to the Star after Saturday’s 1-0 triumph over Brighton and Hove Albion, Heckingbottom insisted that he felt Sander Berge would still be a Blades player in 2021/22.
“That will be out of my hands, maybe out of the club’s hands and maybe out of Sander’s hands, we don’t know, but certainly expecting him to (stay), yes,” the one-time Leeds boss said.
“He’s our player, contracted and what a player he would be for us as well to help us get back into the Premier League.”
It is fair to say the Sheffield United fans do not share Heckinbottom’s optimism.
The Star claimed in March that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have compiled a dossier on the Blades’ £22 million record-signing. Berge is also a target for Liverpool and Aston Villa (Eurosport) – a deal that certainly has the backing of ex-Villa favourite Emile Heskey.
And how much of a loss would Berge be, really?
Undeniably talented he may be, the 6ft 5ins Norway international has made just 27 league appearances during an injury-hit year-and-a-half spell at Sheffield United.
If the Blades can bring in around £30-35 million, that sort of windfall can buy you the spine of a Championship-winning team.
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