Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are considering a summer swoop for Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge, who could be available for €26 million.
According to a report from Jeunes Footeux, north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur could be set to spar in the transfer market this summer for the signing of Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge from Sheffield United.
Berge, 23, came through the ranks at Asker in his homeland and had a stint with Valerenga as well. But, it was during his time with Belgian outfit KRC Genk that the midfielder made his name, prompting Sheffield United to splurge €24 million on him in January last year.
Since his arrival, Berge had been a regular fixture in the side until he picked up a serious knee injury in December 2020. Before his injury, the 23-year-old had managed 30 appearances for the Blades, 14 of which came in the ongoing campaign, with a total tally of two goals and assists apiece.
Sheffield United are staring at the prospect of relegation from the Premier League this term. The Blades are rooted to the bottom of the table, with just 14 points from 28 games, 12 off of Brighton & Hove Albion in 17th. Should they face the dreaded drop, they may have to let go some of their players in the summer, Berge being one of them.
And this possibility has reportedly put Arsenal on high alert, with the Gunners being long-term admirers of Berge’s abilities. Mikel Arteta’s men strengthened their midfield unit last summer with the addition of Thomas Partey, but the Ghanaian has endured an injury-riddled debut campaign in England thus far.
With Dani Ceballos only being on loan and Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny blowing hot and cold over the course of the season, bringing in another central midfielder would serve Arsenal well. Berge, to that end, would be a viable choice for the club, considering that he has had a taste of Premier League football and could be available in the summer.
However, Arsenal will likely have to face competition from local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are also considering a swoop for the Norwegian international. Like the Gunners, Spurs too bolstered their midfield last summer with the signing of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Southampton.
While the Dane has been a huge success, Jose Mourinho must find a suitable partner for him in the long run, given that Harry Winks has not been able to nail down a place for himself while Moussa Sissoko is well into his thirties. Someone of the profile of Berge would then become a feasible target for Tottenham heading into the summer.
The report goes on to add that Sheffield United could part ways with Berge for a transfer fee of €26 million, a figure that should be well within the reach of both London giants. It now remains to be seen whether either Arsenal or Tottenham do launch a move for the Norway international come summer or look elsewhere.
