Former Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has told Football Insider that he believes the club should take advantage of Ronaldo Vieira's Yorkshire roots in order to sign the player. 

As previously reported by Yorkshire Live earlier this month, the Blades have been invited by Sampdoria to make a bid for the 23-year-old midfielder this summer.

Vieira is a player who knows English football well after graduating via Leeds United's academy and went on to play 71 times for the Elland Road side before moving to Italy in 2018.

Now Kenny has claimed that the Steel City side should look to pull on Vieira's heartstrings in order to get him to move to Bramall Lane during the current transfer window:

"He knows England and Yorkshire really well after his time here. 

"I’m sure he’s still got friends and connections here as well that he sees on a regular basis. That can be useful for Sheffield United.

"He’s still a young lad but he’s played a lot of games for his age. It would be a great signing for Sheffield United.

"Sampdoria are no dummies. He’s got a great pedigree behind him already and I think he’d do really well here just like he did at Leeds."

The midfielder has featured on 44 occasions for Sampdoria since moving to the continent and has also spent time out on loan with Hellas Verona in more recent times.

Sheffield United are thought to be in the market for a new midfield player as they prepare for the expected departure of Sander Berge.

The Verdict

I think this would be a great addition for the Blades if they can pull a deal off over the next few weeks as Vieira has the same sort of skill set as Berge.

He also knows the Championship well from his time at Leeds and I think he would surely jump at the chance to make a return to English shores after a few years away.

Given that he has two years remaining on his current contract, I would think that he won't come as cheap as other targets in that area of the field.

However Sheffield United certainly have the financial capabilities to pull of such a deal and I wouldn't be at all shocked if he came in as a direct replacement for Berge this summer.