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Perfect time for Leeds United to move for Sander Berge as Sheffield United ready to sell
Having secured three signings already now is the perfect time for Leeds United to move for Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge.
The Norwegian midfielder is on Victor Orta’s radar, and has emerged as a target for the Whites in the event that club icon Kalvin Phillips leaves for Manchester City, as reported by former Eurosport journalist Dean Jones for Give Me Sport on 16 June.
Berge has a £35million release clause, but according to The Athletic (24 June), the Blades “will listen to any bid” provided that covers £22million outlay they paid for the player in January 2022.
It could mean that Leeds can sign him for around £22million, and the Whites can make it a structured deal to save funds at the moment.
Berge is too good a player to be spending his time in the Championship, and there is high chance that he would leave this summer.
The 24-year-old is not a direct like-for-like replacement for Phillips. The England midfielder is a typical defensive holding midfielder whose job is to provide a safety belt for the back four and sprinkle out passes.
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Berge is more of a box-to-box midfielder who can be a jack of all trades. He offers a far better attacking output than Phillips (averaging 0.18 goals each match, compared to Phillip’s 0.03, as per Wyscout) and is equally good with his defensive contributions.
With Marc Roca in the side, and Adam Forshaw to return from injury next season, Jesse Marsch will have a group of players who are tactically capable of adjusting to different roles.
Whether Phillips leaves or goes, the club must secure a deal for Berge, especially if he is available at a discount.
In other Leeds United news, the club are monitoring a highly-rated young prospect ahead of a potential move.