Manchester City have been linked with a move for Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge recently, and if he were to join Pep Guardiola's side, he could prove to be a replacement for Fernandinho.

According to Belgian news outlet Voetbal24, Guardiola has identified the 23-year-old as an option to replace the Brazilian in his squad this summer. The 35-year-old's contract at the Etihad Stadium is set to expire in the summer and, despite some impressive performances of late, it seems unlikely that he will be offered new terms.

Although the Citizens already have Rodri available as a natural long-term replacement for the former Shakhtar Donetsk man, Guardiola has often fielded the two together for tougher matches this season and may feel that he needs a more defensive-minded midfield option in his squad next season.

Berge could certainly fit the bill, as he has been a regular at Sheffield United in the defensive midfield position since joining in January last year and was impressive in the second half of last season, averaging a solid 6.81 WhoScored rating for his performances.

However, the Blades have struggled immensely this season and look destined for a return to the Championship, which potentially opens the door for Berge to leave, and the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool havealso been linked with a move for the Norwegian.

Jurgen Klopp certainly seems to be a big fan of the young midfielder, having praised him after Liverpool played against his former club Genk in a Champions League game last season, reportedly telling him that he is "a very interesting player."

Berge's average of 1.2 tackles per Premier League game this season is only just shy of the 1.4 averaged by Fernandinho, although the Brazilian clearly has the edge when it comes to interceptions.

However, playing for a side such as City could help Berge unlock his obvious potential; and given that he already has Premier League and international experience, he could prove to be an excellent replacement for Fernandinho in this City side.

Therefore, sporting director Txiki Begiristain should definitely try and bring the £16.2m-rated ace to the Etihad this summer, as it seems clear that his future lies away from Sheffield United.

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