Paul Heckingbottom attended media duty this afternoon ahead of Sunday’s away trip to Yorkshire rivals, Hull City who currently sit in 11th place in the Championship table.
Sheffield United were on the verge of signing Canadian international midfielder, Ismael Kone. Kone is a 20-year-old African-born midfielder who plays for CF Montreal in the MLS.
The deal, according to TSN, would have seen the Blades sign the midfielder for £4.5M rising to £5M in add-ons. However, the deal for Ismael Kone, unfortunately, fell through at the last minute.
Heckingbottom was asked about the Ivory Coast-born midfielder today during the press conference, United’s boss said:
“It was doable [to sign Kone], someone who fits the profile. But I stress this, anyone we spoke to were not seen as replacements for Sander. We’re not going to replace UCL players for a couple of million pounds.” [SUTV]
He expanded:
“He fit the profile of players with potential and with attributes which could go to another level + we can improve. We were upfront with the MLS + Montreal. He’d have to be [one who stays in the mind for the January transfer window].” [SUTV]
The CF Montreal midfielder, according to transfermarkt, will be a free agent before the January transfer window as it lists the Canadian’s contract as expiring in December 2022.
United within the next couple of windows may well be targeting a bunch of midfielders, not just with the potential of Sander Berge leaving though. John Fleck and Oliver Norwood are both 31 years of age, and their contracts are running down.
The Blades will be looking to find younger midfielders so that they can progress their midfield to the next stage and give it a new look, in the near future.