Slavisa Jokanovic has been told to expect the departure of Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge this summer.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by the Sheffield Star, who claim that the Blades hierarchy have warned the 52-year-old manager that the 23-year-old defensive midfielder will leave Bramall Lane this summer.

It has been reported that a host of clubs, including the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Napoli and Aston Villa, are keeping a close eye on the Norway international ahead of a potential £35m move in the summer transfer window.

Jokanovic will be gutted

With Jokanovic undoubtedly having been informed by the Sheffield United board that an immediate return to the Premier League is of utmost importance for the club next season, the fact that the same board have stated that the club look set to lose one of their brightest talents this summer is sure to have left the Serbian gutted.

Indeed, the £16.2m-rated defensive midfielder highly impressed during his first season at the club, making an average of 0.7 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and winning 5.5 duels per game over his 14 Premier League appearances in 2019/20.

The 23-year-old also impressed going forwards, scoring one goal, providing one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, with these returns seeing the £38k-per-week man earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.90 - ranking him as the Blades' seventh-best performer in the top flight that season.

As such, with Jokanovic's side now playing their football at a lower level than the Premier League, it would seem to be a fair assumption to make that Berge's performances would only have improved in the second tier, particularly when taking into account the player whom Chris Wilder dubbed an "outstanding" talent will be developing with more experience as well as age.

So, should United indeed go on to sanction the sale of the Norweigan this summer, it would almost certainly weaken the club's chances of going on to secure promotion in their upcoming campaign.

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