Arsenal are stepping up their pursuit of Sander Berge, with the Star claiming that agents working on behalf the Premier League giants are eyeing a move for the Sheffield United midfielder.
The Blades may be hanging onto their top-flight status by the final cuticle of their fingernails, but the club’s record signing has managed to escape with his reputation intact following a disastrous season at Bramall Lane.
In fact, there is an argument to be made that Berge has been quite fortunate to spend the last three months on the treatment table with a torn hamstring.
After all, the Norwegian international has managed to avoid a run of 11 defeats in 16 games, culminating in Sunday’s 5-0 shellacking at the hands of a rampant Leicester City.
While a haunting 2020/21 campaign has done nothing for the reputations of the once-coveted John Fleck, Aaron Ramsdale and George Baldock, Berge looks destined to be a man in high-demand once the summer window opens.
EuroSport claim that Aston Villa and Liverpool are weighing up bids for the 6ft 5ins enforcer.
The Star, meanwhile, report that agents for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are working on a deal that would see Berge compete with Thomas Partey, Grant Xhaka and co for a place in the Gunners’ engine room.
London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur are also considering a move of their own. Powerful and physical yet blessed with real quality in possession, Berge could be an ideal addition to Jose Mourinho’s counter-attacking blueprint – a more technically-gifted Moussa Sissoko, if you will.
Jeunes Footeaux reports that Sheffield United are willing to sell Berge for around £22.5 million – a similar fee to the one they paid Genk in January 2020.
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