This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...
Leeds United have lined up a possible move for Sheffield United’s Sander Berge should Kalvin Phillips exit the club this summer.
According to transfer guru Dean Jones, via Give Me Sport, the Whites are considering a bid for the Blades’ midfielder.
Here we ask our FLW writers their verdict on if the United player would be a good fit at Leeds…
Alfie Burns
Sander Berge would be a good signing for Leeds, but not as Kalvin Phillips' replacement. That would be an extremely odd move.
Berge arrived in England with the potential to be a defensive midfielder for Sheffield United, but we've seen that his strengths are further forward under both Chris Wilder and Paul Heckingbottom.
He gets goals arriving late into the box, whilst he's a difficult man to stop breaking forwards given his size.
If Leeds got hold of him and played to those strengths, he'd be a great addition. However, signing him to replace Phillips as the anchor in midfield would suggest that the club haven't watched Berge's better performances of late.
That being said, Leeds are playing a double pivot under Jesse Marsch now, so one of those two midfielders does get a touch of licence to get forwards. For me, though, it wouldn't be enough to truly see the best of Berge.
Carla Devine
Berge would be a good addition to the Leeds squad for next season. The midfielder has had a positive season with Sheffield United this year and been an important part of the team that made it to the play-offs.
In 31 appearances in the Championship this year, the 24-year-old has scored five goals and assisted three times showing his ability to contribute to the attacking push of his side from midfield.
Furthermore, if Kalvin Phillips does leave Leeds this summer then they will be seeking a replacement for him as he is a core part of the squad and Berge could step into that role as well as still having the room to grow further into it.
Therefore, this seems like a fairly solid signing and one that Leeds could do with looking ahead to next season.
Declan Harte
Berge has been one of Sheffield United’s best players this season, which makes it all the more surprising he didn’t draw transfer attention from top flight clubs 12 months ago.
A move to Leeds would be a step in the right direction for the Norwegian, but would be a big blow to United’s promotion ambitions.
As a replacement for Phillips he would not be a like-for-like change and could perhaps signal a change in the makeup of how the team will be set up in midfield under Jesse Marsch.
It could be the case that Leeds opt to replace Phillips with two players, given the size of the expected fee should he leave Elland Road, with Berge acting as one half of that.
This would certainly make more sense than if this was the only business done in the aftermath of the English international’s possible exit.