Although his season has been hit by injury, Arsenal are one of several Premier League sides who are interested in signing Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the Norwegian is on a list of targets that the Gunners have lined up for the summer.
Sander Berge: Arsenal Join the Race for Norwegian Midfielder
Expected to Leave
After joining the club in January 2020, Berge is expected to leave Sheffield United this summer following their relegation to the Championship.
The Norwegian has been hugely impressive for the Blades since making the move to Bramall Lane. As a result, it led to several sides showing interest, one of which is Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta could be set to lose several of his key players this summer following yet another dismal season. The clear-out could be particularly prominent in the centre of midfield.
Dani Ceballos will return to Real Madrid following the end of his loan spell. Fellow Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard could join him, although Arsenal are expected to try and convince him to stay.
The Athletic’s report states that Granit Xhaka is also looking to leave this summer. Xhaka has been one of the instrumental leaders in Arteta’s side, but failure to secure European football has meant his future looks to be in doubt.
It means that the Gunners could be left with very few options in midfield, particularly defensively. As a result, Berge is one of the targets that they have lined up.
The Norwegian midfielder has made just 13 appearances so far this season in a campaign plagued by injury. The club’s record signing suffered a hamstring injury in their 3-2 defeat to Manchester United in December and has subsequently spent the second half of the season on the sidelines.
The 23-year-old’s return came too little too late for the Blades; Paul Heckingbottom’s side had already been relegated by the time he returned from injury on May 2.
Berge was one of the few bright sparks in what was a terrible first half of the season. The Norwegian did a stellar job at the heart of the Blades’ midfield, averaging two tackles per game and a pass completion rate of 88.5%.
How Much Would Sander Berge Cost?
According to Nathan Hemmingham of Yorkshire Live, Berge would cost £35 million this summer.
There had been reports that the Norwegian’s release clause is £12 million, £10 million less than the Blades signed him for.
However, Yorkshire Live have confirmed that his release clause at Bramall Lane is much higher, standing at the aforementioned £35 million.
Arsenal, though, will face competition from several other Premier League sides. Everton and Aston Villa are also interested in the midfielder, although they may have to move players on in order to secure Berge.
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