Why Sheffield United must make a renewed attempt to sign Sander Berge
According to Daily Mail, Sheffield United have failed with an offer for Genk’s Norwegian international midfielder Sander Berge.
Berge, 21, who started with lower-division side Asker before coming under the limelight with Valerenga in his homeland, moved to Belgium heavyweights Genk in the winter of 2017. He has gone from strength to strength in the past couple of seasons.
Having racked up 113 appearances for Genk, Berge firmly established himself in the heart of their midfield and played a key role in Genk’s march to the quarter-finals of the Europa League in his debut season.
He also helped the Belgian outfit lift the first division title last season and further made himself known to the footballing world with a win in the Belgian Supercup final. He has shot to prominence in recent times and put in one of his finest performances against Napoli in the Champions League earlier this season, where the game ended in a 0-0 draw. The report also adds that Berge is one of the several targets for English side West Ham United.
Meanwhile, Chris Wilder’s men are enjoying a successful campaign in the top-flight this season after getting promoted from the Championship. They have surpassed all expectations are considered to be a powerful team in the Premier League this time.
The manager brought in several changes and ideas to the team and they are currently 8th in the table above the likes of high-profile clubs like Arsenal, Everton and Newcastle United. In the process, they have proven to be a tougher opponent with some consistent performances in the league.
However, the manager needs to add some reinforcements to his squad to ensure that they overcome hardships in the latter stages of the season and remain in the top half of the table. And to do that, they need a good defensive midfielder.
The Blades did sign Jack Rodwell earlier this month but the Englishman has featured just once, in the FA Cup, and didn’t look promising. Muhamed Besic, another defensive player, is on loan at Goodison Park.
Other than that, Wilder has no natural defensive player to control the game from a deep-lying midfield position. Therefore, Sheffield United must reignite their interest in Sander Berge.
In the 6 Champions League fixtures Berge has featured this season, he has registered 1.5 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.2 clearances, according to Whoscored. Not only is he good at defensive situations, but he can also get forward in demanding situations, which is evident from the 4 goals he has scored for Genk in the league this season.
The 21-year-old is a consistent performer and at a tender age, he has already made 20 senior appearances for his national side. He has evolved to become a complete midfielder and the Premier League would definitely help him raise the standard of his game if he develops under the right guidance.
Verdict
Given that he is a prodigious talent, he would be a worthy signing. He is only going to get better, as he has done in the last two years, and could be a key player for the Blades in no time. Therefore, Sheffield United must renew their interest in the Norwegian.
