Sheffield United Opinion: Blades should sign Britt Assombalonga to thrive in the Premier League
According to The Northern Echo, Sheffield United are weighing up a £15 million move for Middlesbrough hitman Britt Assombalonga in the summer, with manager Chris Wilder reportedly looking to bolster his attacking ranks to thrive in the Premier League.
Sheffield United managed to beat Leeds United to the second automatic promotion spot in the Championship to make a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2007, and it is pretty apparent that the Blades have already started to firm up their interest in their potential targets.
The Northern Echo understands that Middlesbrough might be prepared to part ways with their prized asset this summer for a hefty transfer fee, despite the 26-year-old scoring 14 goals in the Championship this season.
The same source claims that Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City, Aston Villa and Derby County are also interested in the DR Congo centre-forward, though the Blades would be in pole position to land him should he head for the exit door at the Riverside Stadium.
Sheffield United have a long-standing interest in the former Nottingham Forest striker, and now that the Blades have the financial means to pull off a big-money transfer, one would expect them to bring the 26-year-old Congolese international to Bramall Lane this summer. (h/t Northern Echo)
Assombalonga rose through the youth ranks at Watford and spent time on loan at lower division clubs Wealdstone, Southend United and Braintree Town before joining Peterborough United in League One.
Following a prolific spell in the third tier, Assombalonga was snapped up by Nottingham Forest back in 2014 before Middlesbrough got him on board for a club-record £15 million in the summer of 2017. He hasn’t looked back since then and has established himself as one of the most lethal strikers in the Championship, hovering around that 15-goal mark in both of his seasons at the Riverside Stadium.
To put things into perspective, Britt Assombalonga would be an ideal signing for Sheffield United given that he has been one of the most prolific strikers in the second tier over the last four or five seasons. The 26-year-old has never played in the Premier League before but there is every possibility that he might make the step up to the top flight successfully.
Sheffield have relied heavily on veteran Billy Sharp, who has contributed with 23 goals in the Championship to propel them to a promotion-winning campaign. Irishman David McGoldrick, 31, has been another key contributor up front with 15 goals, but given their age, it would be hard for either of them to shine in the Premier League.
Gary Madine is another viable option but he is only on loan from Cardiff City and it is still unclear whether the Blades will be able to sign him permanently, with the Bluebirds set for a season in the Championship next term following their relegation from the Premier League. Scott Hogan is on loan from Aston Villa and there is also a big question mark on where his future lies next season.
Suffice to say, Sheffield need an overhaul of their attacking options and Britt Assombalonga presents a good option for a reasonable price. The Congolese international can be a tricky customer up front with his pace, power and movement and he seems to have that uncanny knack of popping up at the right place and at the right time to pounce on half-chances.
He does tend to go through occasional lean patches in front of goal but that is normal for any striker in the game. Moreover, his aerial ability can be another useful asset to the Blades.
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Assombalonga, though not a top-quality striker by any means, would arguably be Sheffield’s best bet to replace the likes of Sharp and McGoldrick heading into the Premier League. That said, the Blades should go all out in their pursuit of the prolific hitman this summer.
