Sheffield United Opinion: Why the Blades should go all out for Dario Zuparic?
According to the Daily Star, Premier League new boys Sheffield United are interested in Croatian defender Dario Zuparic.
The Croatian, 27, has enjoyed a solid campaign with HNK Rijeka and was instrumental in helping his club achieve a shock win in the cup final over Dinamo Zagreb last week.
Dario Zuparic is believed to be available for just £1.5 million this summer. The defender has one year left on his contract at HNK Rijeka and they could look to cash in on him this summer rather than risk losing him on a free transfer at the end of next season.
That makes the 27-year-old a bargain option for Sheffield United, but Chris Wilder’s side are expected to face competition from Fulham, the report adds. But the Blades do enjoy the edge over Fulham following their promotion to the Premier League.
Wilder’s side finished second in the Championship last season to seal automatic promotion alongside league winners Norwich City. This was the second promotion in three years for Sheffield United, who were promoted from League One in 2017. That just tells about the massive progress the Blades have made since Wilder’s appointment.
But the 51-year-old faces his main challenge now, with the club in need of reinforcements to survive in the Premier League. United’s promotion success was built on the strong defensive base that Wilder managed to form last season. The club has a plethora of defensive options, yet, it won’t do much worse if the United boss adds another to his ranks.
Zuparic would be a good fit at the Bramall Lane. He impressed in HNK Rijeka colours this past season and has played at a high level for some time now. The Croat is a central defender by trade but he is more than capable of operating in defensive midfield, which means Wilder would get a versatile player if he succeeds in signing Zuparic.
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The former Pescara man has no prior experience of playing in England, but Wilder should take a gamble on the defender. If the move clicks, it’ll represent one of the best signings in the club’s history. In fact, if Zuparic can settle into life in England swiftly, he could be deemed as an upgrade on Chris Basham.
Verdict
The team spirit in this Sheffield United squad is fantastic and the signing of Zuparic could take them a long way in the Premier League next campaign.
