Sheffield United join Fulham & Crystal Palace in battle for Europa League defender | OneFootball

Sheffield United are in the race to sign Elfsborg defender Terry Yegbe alongside Premier League duo Crystal Palace and Fulham

Sheffield United are among a group of clubs tracking the progress of Elfsborg defender Terry Yegbe ahead of the January transfer window.

That's according to Swedish outlet Fotboll Direkt, who report that the Blades are interested in Yegbe's services, but face competition from Premier League duo Crystal Palace and Fulham, as well as Bundesliga clubs Freiburg and Union Berlin.

As per the report, Elfsborg want to hold out for a fee of €5 million (£4.1 million) for the 23-year-old, who has made 35 appearances across all competitions since joining his current club from Finnish outfit SJK last January.

According to the Yorkshire Post, the Ghanaian's contract with the Allsvenskan side lasts until 2028, so they are in no rush to cash in on his services, but will reluctantly let him go for a new challenge for the right price.

Terry Yegbe on Sheffield United radar as defensive reinforcement sought after

Sheffield United are currently flying in the Championship, and are second in the table, while only goal difference separates them from league leaders Sunderland.

Furthermore, Chris Wilder's men would be top of the league if they weren't handed a two-point deduction by the EFL at the start of the campaign.

Sunday's 1-0 victory over Steel City rivals Sheffield Wednesday marked four consecutive victories for the Bramall Lane side, and these are exciting times for a club who are seeking an immediate Premier League return.

But as the business end of the congested Championship season approaches, Wilder will be hoping to utilise the January transfer window to bolster the Blades' promotion credentials.

While the South Yorkshire outfit already boast talented defenders such as Anel Ahmedhozic and Harry Souttar, who is currently on loan from Leicester City, Yegbe could be a quality addition to that particular duo, although the future of the former may be a factor in this interest, given when January comes around, Bosnia international Ahmedhodzic will have just 18 months left on his contract.

The Elfsborg man is a Ghana youth international who has made 12 Europa League appearances this term; the majority of which came during the competition's qualifying stages.

He starred for his side during their impressive 1-0 victory over Serie A side AS Roma last month, while the fact that he is playing in an elite level competition demonstrates that he would be more than comfortable in the Championship.

If the Blades are able to secure his services in January, then he could emerge as one of the best defenders in the second tier, and could even produce the goods at Premier League level, should the Bramall Lane side earn promotion with him on their side.

But while it would be a major coup for the South Yorkshire outfit to secure the 23-year-old's services, they face competition from high-profile clubs already plying their respective trades in the top-flight, both in the UK and abroad.

Takeover situation could hinder Sheffield United chances of signing Yegbe

Another potential stumbling block in the Blades' pursuit of the Elfsborg man is the fact that the club have been up for sale since at least May 2023, according to Bloomberg, but a sale is yet to be completed, despite keen interest from a US-based consortium led by Ohio businessman Steve Rosen.

Last week, Alan Nixon reported that only the agreement of EFL terms stood in the way of Rosen completing his takeover of the Bramall Lane club.

Meanwhile, the Sheffield Star revealed on Monday that Rosen's bidding partners are film director Joe Russo and Helmy Eltoukhy, who is the CEO of a California-based health company.

But while the identities of those behind the bid to buy the Blades are now clearer, it is vital for the club's January transfer hopes that a sale of the club is completed sooner rather than later.

If current owner Prince Abdullah does not sell the club prior to the transfer window, then it is unlikely that Wilder and co will be in a position to sign talented players such as Yegbe.