Nantes president Waldemir Kita has rubbished reports linking Premier League newcomers Sheffield United with £5 million Egypt international Mostafa Mohamed.
Last week, FootMercato suggested that Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades were looking to raid a team who dodged relegation from Ligue 1 by the skin of their teeth last term.
Mostafa Mohamed scored 11 times and set up five more goals during an impressive debut season in France. The Giza-born poacher helped save Nantes from the drop, and also went a long way to fill a Randal Kolo Muani-shaped hole in les Canaris frontline.
So speculation surrounding Mohamed’s future should come as no surprise.
Though, as Kita tells But Football Club, there is nothing to suggest that Sheffield United will be making a bid any time soon.
“Mostafa Mohamed has never been tracked by Lille or Sheffield United,” the outspoken Kita explains. “He will stay (at Nantes).”
Sheffield United need a striker
25-year-old Mohamed moved to France following a spell in Turkey with Galatasaray. Capped 22 times by Egypt, the versatile frontman has been likened to Roberto Firmino in the past. He might not be the most prolific of centre-forwards, but Mohamed often gets the best out of the players around him, using his intelligent movement and eye-catching link-play to excellent effect.
“Scoring goals is not the only measure of a good striker. There are strikers that don’t score much but are important to their team,” Egyptian pundit Haytham Farouk told KingFut when Rangers were being linked with Mohamed a few years ago.
“Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino is an example. He doesn’t score a lot, but he’s very important to the team and he assists Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah in scoring goals.”
Sheffield United are yet to make a single signing since sealing automatic promotion in May. That could soon change, however; Heckingbottom under pressure to sign a number nine following Billy Sharp’s departure.
BK Hacken forward Benie Traore is an option (The Sun).
Traore has 15 goals in his last 19 games, with Hacken now hoping to make the youngster the most expensive export in their history amid rumours of a £4 million price-tag.
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