According to a recent update from Football Insider, Sheffield United are in pole position to land Genk's Sander Berge but will have to increase their offer if they are to prise him away by Friday.

The same source outlines that the club felt they had reached an agreement with the sellers at a price of £18-20m but the Belgium outfit have now changed their mind and upped the figure.

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Still, it just goes to show how much they value their young star while underlining his importance to the club.

But who exactly is this kid and why is Chris Wilder so eager to add him to the squad?

To answer those questions, we found out what the media have been saying about the 21-year-old...

Dimitri De Conde, Genk's Director of Football

De Conde's words just prove how highly the young player is valued at Genk at the moment. Of course, they are well aware of the interest he's beginning to command and he addressed the growing speculation recently.

But at the same time, he heaped praise on the player, emphasising his strength and saying that he's already proved he can compete with the best of them.

Here's what he said, as quoted by HLN.Be's journalist Kristof Terreur:

"He proved that he can perform at the top level. He is young, strong. We are going to fight hard to keep him with us this season. We will see in the coming weeks."

Albert Stuivenberg, former Genk coach

Stuivenberg is a coach who has been full of praise for the young midfielder, claiming he has the potential to turn into a future leader on the pitch.

This highlights the strength of his mentality despite being so young.

Here's what Stuivenberg said in full, as quoted by talkSPORT:

"He is already very mature. He is intelligent, reads the game well, and takes the initiative. He has the potential to become a future leader."

Taste of Football

Taste of Football take it upon themselves to do in-depth player profiles of many young, up and coming stars, Berge included. And their scout report highlights some of his strengths perfectly.

He seems to be a very strong presence in midfield and even has some characteristics that connect him to a younger version of Sergio Busquets, which might be the biggest compliment of them all.

Here's what they said in their report:

"At 6ft 5, the midfielder is a massive physical presence in midfield. His ability to shrug off anyone pressing him and almost glide beyond them is a joy to watch. The Norway international uses his strength to his advantage, allowing him to transition quickly from his own box into the final third. But Berge’s game isn’t reliant on his stature.

"On multiple occasions, he is seen skipping past the opposition, either with a flick around the corner or an elegant dribble. Hardly what you expect from such a giant in midfield. Berge also has finesse to his game. Reminiscent of a young Sergio Busquets, a testament to how easy he makes the game look."

Verdict

By the sound of things, the signing of Berge would be a huge coup for Sheffield United and, even if they have to pay a bit more than originally expected, it's a deal that would be well worthwhile.

A talent like him is bound to catch the eye of many European giants and the Blades could welcome a future star to Bramall Lane.