Sheffield United are willing to pay £6 million to sign Wales international Connor Roberts from Swansea City, according to the Sun (9 August, page 60).
After making his 100th appearance for his boyhood club, a Neath-born right-back is facing up to what is probably the most difficult decision of his career to date.
Does Roberts commit his future to a Swansea side he loves after they missed out on promotion thanks to a play-off semi-final loss against Brentford?
Or does he follow his head rather than his heart and jump at the chance to make a giant step up the footballing ladder?
The Sun reports that Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has his sights set on another of the Championship’s most underrated talents, a year after raiding the Liberty Stadium for Roberts’ former team-mate Oli McBurnie.
The report even claims that Sheffield United are willing to pay £6 million – a fee that Swansea will struggle to turn down in the midst of an ongoing financial crisis.
The Blades are also keen on Matty Cash of Nottingham Forest but Roberts, who produced five assists and one goal in 2019/20, would be a much cheaper option.
And he certainly boasts the pace and delivery required to shine as a rampaging right-back in Wilder’s famously free-wheeling system.
“Whether the team is playing well or not, he is guaranteed to give 100 per cent and you never question his hard work and commitment,” Swans boss Steve Cooper told the club’s official website this summer.
“Everyone in the academy should look at Connor and that should give them hope.
“It’s a story which the coaches can use, along with myself. He’s obviously a very good player with fantastic attributes, but what you see with him is pure commitment on the pitch.”
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