Sheffield United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Sampdoria midfielder Ronaldo Vieira, according to The Athletic.
What's the story?
The Blades will be preparing for life back in the Championship after being relegated from the Premier League last season in what was a frustrating campaign for the Bramall Lane faithful. They are now under the watchful eye of Slavisa Jokanovic, and the newly-appointed manager will be keen to add to his squad before the summer transfer window reaches a conclusion.
Vieira has reportedly been offered to the Championship club, with the midfielder's future with Sampdoria looking bleak after spending last year's campaign on loan with Hellas Verona.
The midfielder is contracted with the Genoa club until the summer of 2023, but it remains to be seen as to whether he'll see out that contract with Sampdoria after this recent report on his future.
It could be the ideal move for all parties involved
Vieira would be no stranger to Championship football having spent three seasons with Leeds United in the second tier, so it would make this something of a risk-free signing for Sheffield United this summer.
You would imagine that he'll feel as though he has a point to prove at this level too, having been a raw talent earlier in his last spell in the Championship whilst with the Whites.
This update could also be ideal for Sheffield United with the Blades facing considerable interest in Sander Berge this summer, with the likes of Napoli, Atalanta, Arsenal, Everton and Aston Villa all keen on a deal to sign the 23-year-old Norwegian.
Therefore, the timing of Vieira being offered to Slavisa Jokanovic's side couldn't be better, and if Berge were to depart the club in the next few months, then Vieira could be the ideal replacement for him moving forwards.
Vieira and Berge are well-matched when it comes to comparing their respective performance figures. Vieira's statistics from the 2019/20 season, when he made 27 league appearances for Sampdoria, have been compared with Berge's statistics from the recent 2020/21 season, and they're not dissimilar.
Berge won an average of 3.7 duels per game, which is the same figure as Vieira, but the Sampdoria midfielder edged it when it comes to tackles per game, with the 22-year-old averaging 1.2 tackles per game compared to Berge's 1.1 in the Premier League last term.
Vieira won an average of 1.5 aerial duels per game, whilst Berge's average is slightly lower at 1.1 per game from last season. The Sampdoria man's average is also superior to Bramall Lane favourite Phil Jagielka, who won 1.3 headers per game in 2020/21.
Financially, the 22-year-old could be the ideal replacement for the Norwegian in the long-term. If Sheffield United's £35m valuation of Berge is to be matched and they go on to sign Vieira for a cut-price deal with Sampdoria looking to move him on, that would give Jokanovic funds to strengthen other areas of the Blades' squad this summer, which should be pleasing to hear for the club's supporters.
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