Spanish top-tier side Sevilla have joined the race for Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge, according to Estadio Deportivo.
The 23-year-old has been the subject of major interest from the Premier League and Italian top flight this summer following the Blades' relegation, which has potentially opened the door for him to exit Bramall Lane.
He first arrived in England back in January 2020 for a £22m fee when the South Yorkshire side were flying high in the Premier League table.
However, they have declined since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and with the Blades dropping down to ninth place after spending a chunk of the 2019/20 season competing for European football, they went on to finish bottom of the league last term.
With this, Berge's release clause has been reduced by £10m to £35m but with his side's relegation, many clubs including Arsenal, Everton, Napoli, Atalanta and Lazio seem unwilling to pay this amount to bypass the Blades and directly negotiate with the player.
The former are said to have reignited their interest in the Norwegian and could be preparing to launch an offer to lure him and Aaron Ramsdale to the Emirates Stadium in a double deal. But they will now face extra competition with Sevilla entering the running for this potential deal.
Estadio Deportivo are reporting that although there are other areas they need to strengthen first during the window, Berge was the subject of interest from the Spanish side even before his move to Bramall Lane.
With other teams haggling over a deal, now could be Julen Lopetegui's side's chance to secure his services.
The Verdict:
If the Norwegian does move on this summer, his current side will want to bring in another central midfielder before letting him go, especially with John Lundstram's departure this summer leaving them looking light in the middle of the park.
In a potential boost for Sevilla and other sides, the Blades are thought to be closing in on a loan-to-buy move for Sampdoria 23-year-old Ronaldo Vieira, which could free up one of the South Yorkshire side's most valuable assets for a move.
Sheffield United will be one of the favourites to win promotion back to the Premier League with the quality in their first-team squad and Slavisa Jokanovic at the helm, but their return to the top flight isn't guaranteed and could benefit from a move away this summer.
The Serbian manager has stated his desire for Berge to remain at the club, but if he becomes unsettled in the next few weeks amid this intense transfer speculation, it could be time to cash in on him.
Even if this deal is done near the end of this window, the funds generated by the 23-year-old's sale could be vital in the January transfer market.