Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Sander Berge, with Sheffield United facing a fight to keep the Norwegiant at Bramall Lane.
According to Norwegian outlet VG, Sander Berge is the subject of interest from Arsenal. The Gunners have been following the progress of the Norwegian midfielder since before he joined fellow Premier League outfit Sheffield United and continue to retain an interest in him.
Sander Berge joined Sheffield United earlier this year in a £22 million deal, becoming the Blades’ record signing. Having burst into the limelight while at Genk from 2017 till 2020, the player’s stock had been quite high when he arrived at Bramall Lane in January.
Since then, the 22-year-old has been a mainstay in midfield for Sheffield United, featuring in every single game that the club have played. Having taken no time in becoming a key figure for the South Yorkshire club, Berge has continued to prove his credentials, even as the Blades have made a slow start to the 2020/21 season. He also remains on the radars of top clubs, including Arsenal.
The report suggests that Arsenal have been closely following Berge’s progress since before he made his way to Sheffield United, with Liverpool also among the clubs that have tracked him. The north Londoners remain in pursuit of the Norwegian international, as per VG.
The continued interest in Berge makes some sense, considering Granit Xhaka has been touted to be a part of a potential swap deal including Christian Eriksen. If Xhaka, who seems to have gone down the midfield pecking order at Arsenal since the arrival of Thomas Partey, does end up leaving, the Gunners would need a replacement, making Berge a viable target.
Amid the interest from Arsenal, Chris Wilder has also admitted that Sheffield United could brace themselves for a fight to keep Berge. He said, “We understand that. The £ 20 million we paid for Sander is not a big deal for a player like him.”
“It felt great for us, because we have not been in that market for 25 years, but now it is nothing. Sander was a fantastic signing for us. We want him to grow with us, but we understand that the big clubs are interested when he performs so well. That means we, and Sander, are doing something right.”
Xhaka hardly did himself any favours with a sub-par showing against Leeds and if his stature keeps on declining, we could well see Arsenal make a move for Berge. For now, it looks like the Gunners are keeping a keen eye on his progress. And with Wilder looking over his shoulders, Arsenal might just fancy their chances.
