Could Swansea City’s Championship goal machine become the most expensive player in the history of Premier League newcomers Sheffield United?
Sheffield United have stepped up their pursuit of Swansea City striker Oli McBurnie by making a club-record £10 million bid for the prolific Scotland international, according to The Sun.
The Blades hardly struggled for goals as they finished second in the Championship last season with Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick hitting the back of the net for fun in Chris Wilder’s free-flowing side. But the veteran duo are both on the wrong side of 30 and, crucially, totally unproven in the Premier League.
As a result, speculation suggests that Sheffield United have made signing a new centre-forward a top priority. And after links with Britt Assombalonga, Neal Maupay and Loren Moron, McBurnie appears to have emerged as the number one target.
The Sun claims that the Steel City giants have offered £10 million, a fee that would make the Leeds-born striker the most expensive player in their history. McBurnie is keen to secure a move to the Premier League this summer.
Swansea want more for their star man, however, who could also reunite with Graham Potter at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Yes, McBurnie has played just 16 Premier League games without scoring a single goal during his time at Swansea.
But it would be unfair to judge the now-23-year-old on a few cameo appearances off the bench, particularly as he was far from an established first-team player when The Swans were still a top flight club.
McBurnie only really started to showcase his goalscoring potential in the Championship, netting 24 times in all competitions across 2018/19. He looks every inch a natural-born goalscorer, blessed with a superb leap, ruthless finishing and intelligent movement. Crucially, McBurnie has time on his side too.
And he is exactly the kind of raw talent Wilder would love to get his teeth into.
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