Who are the Six Sheffield United Players more expensive than Tom Cannon? | OneFootball

This morning, Chris Wilder confirmed during his press conference that Sheffield United have made a bid for Leicester City’s Tom Cannon. Danny Hall has since reported that Sheffield United have had a bid in the region of £10 million plus add-ons accepted by the Foxes. Other outlets are reporting the total including add-ons is around £13 million.

Such a large fee has had many Blades question the price. After all, we aren’t used to Sheffield United competing at such a height financially. Especially, whilst the club has been in the Championship. Personally, if the deal is complete, it’s good to see the new owners help the club fight successfully for targets.

But whether you are confident about potentially signing Tom Cannon for a large fee or your inner accountant is getting nervous. How good have the six investments more expensive than Cannon been for United?

Rhian Brewster £23.5 million

Brewster joined the Blades in 2020, in a strange month for transfers, October. Although, the unconventional arrival month should have been the first clue that nothing about his time at Sheffield United would be straightforward.

The former Liverpool forward came with a lot of hype. Following an impressive loan at Swansea where he scored 11 goals in 22 games. Plus, a FIFA U17 World Cup Golden Boot for England in India in 2017.

Since joining the club over four years ago, Rhian has scored six goals and two assists in 100 matches. Therefore, statistically, his time at the club has not hit the heights expected. With Liverpool’s £40 million reported buy-back clause having expired back in June 2023.

In defence of Brewster, his time at United has been plagued by unfortunate injuries. He has suffered with multiple hamstring injuries since joining the club. The longest of which kept him out for almost a year between October 2022 and September 2023. Even this season, he has dealt with a thigh issue that kept him out for a month.

This season has been something of a turning point for Rhian at least in playing time. With just over half the season completed, he has made his most appearances in a season for the club since his debut season.

Perhaps, we’d have liked to have seen more goals from Rhian in a Blades shirt and he does seem a victim of the price tag paid for his services. When he’s on the pitch this season he seems to give his all, he has contributed three points to the Blades’ total against Millwall. Plus, whilst he has a Blades’ shirt on he deserves our support as supporters. With his contract running out this summer, hopefully Rhian makes the run-in his best time in a Blades shirt to date.

Sander Berge £20 million

The most expensive non-striker on the list. Sander Berge signed for Sheffield United from Genk in January 2020, for a then club-record fee.

Compared to Brewster’s, Sander Berge’s time at Bramall Lane was much more successful. Berge came in after interest from some of Europe’s elite clubs. Instantly endearing himself to Sheffield United fans with his name being sung at the Crystal Palace match after his signing.

Sander gave the Blades a boost in the charge for a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League. Later on in his Blades career, the Norwegian international stuck with the Blades’ after relegation to the Championship and was a crucial player during the Blades last promotion to the Premier League. As well as helping the Blades’ side that reached the FA Cup semi-final in 2023.

On a personal level, Berge contributed 15 goals and 12 assists during his three years at Bramall Lane. His final goal for the Blades secured the three points against West Brom that promoted the Blades.

The end of his time at Bramall Lane is the main downside to his deal. From a financial perspective, Sander’s departure was less than ideal. Burnley reportedly signed Berge for around £12 million, three-fifths of what United had spent on him. For a player of Sander Berge’s potential when signed for the Blades, a loss of £8 million was a financial gut punch. Although, given he could have left for free at the end of last season, it could have been worse.

Aaron Ramsdale £18.5 million

Ramsdale returned from Bournemouth in 2020, to replace Dean Henderson after it became clear he wouldn’t be returning for a third season.

Ramsdale, a Blades academy graduate, was brought in after a season of Premier League highs for the Blades. Whilst, his Bournemouth side had been relegated from the top flight the season prior.

Unfortunately, for the goalkeeper, the Blades would repeat the Cherries relegation with Ramsdale between the sticks. He conceded 63 goals and got just 5 clean sheets in the Premier League as United finished bottom. Obviously, the low clean sheet total isn’t only the fault of Ramsdale and Arsenal understood this.

The Gunners paid an initial fee of £24.5 million for United’s No.1 in a deal which with add-ons could have risen to £30 million. This makes Ramsdale the most financially beneficial signing on the list and the only current profit maker for the Blades.

Cameron Archer £18 million

This is undoubtedly the weirdest deal on the entire list. Cameron Archer’s deal to join Sheffield United was essentially a season-long loan. Despite, leading to a reported fee of around £18 million being paid by United.

From a playing perspective, Archer scored four goals and an assist for the Blades in the Premier League last season. A decent tally given United’s performances last season. But his debut goal, which could have been a brace against Everton, seemed to promise so much more.

Ultimately, Archer and his fellow Blades couldn’t keep the side in the Premier League last season which led to him returning to Aston Villa for a reported £15 million. With the Blades only incurring the £3 million upfront fee. It suggests the hierarchy at Bramall Lane had learnt from the Brewster deal as for just £3 million, Archer’s signing is much more easily stomached.

Oli McBurnie £17.5 million

Oli McBurnie, the Scottish striker from Leeds, was and still likely is one of Chris Wilder’s most admired strikers. As well as being Sheffield United’s most expensive fee at the time, he was also became the most expensive Scottish player.

In his first season at Bramall Lane, McBurnie bagged six goals in the Premier League. In the Blades less successful second season, he would get just one. Arguably, his most impressive goal tally helped the Blades’ return to the Premier League with 15 goals and two assists in all competitions. In total McBurnie scored 29 goals and got 7 assists across his time as a Blade.

In his final season, McBurnie proved himself one of United’s better players in a poor year for the squad. As he bagged six top flight goals and three assists and even captained the side on some occasions.

Financially, McBurnie has the current worst resale, as he was allowed to leave for free last summer. Although, in fairness to those in charge of bringing him to Bramall Lane, none of them could have predicted his move to Las Palmas.

Gus Hamer £15 million

The second current player on the list, Gus Hamer is probably the best value for money. For a reported fee of £15 million, Hamer has proved his worth at Bramall Lane.

Despite an abysmal last season, Hamer made a fairly strong step up to the Premier League. His 4 goals and 6 assists in the Premier League contributed to almost a third of the Blades’ 35 top flight goals last season.

Hamer has also returned to the Championship as though he never left. With 6 goals and 5 assists in the Championship so far from 25 games. An impressive stat given he has played most of the season in an unfamiliar wide forward position compared to his usual deeper midfield role.

It remains to be seen, what if any value, Hamer could offer to the Blades in terms of potential resale value. However, it would likely be more than the £15 million spent. As long as his contract isn’t running out.

Takeaways

Ultimately, Sheffield United’s six players signed for a greater fee than Tom Cannon are a mixed bag. All of them have offered some great things to Sheffield United. But some have been more consistently successful than others.

In terms of Cannon, if he’s signed it can only be hoped that his time at the club is closer to that of Hamer’s and Berge’s. Whilst, big-money gambles haven’t always paid off especially for Wilder, we can only hope Tom Cannon is the one to buck the trend. Plus, with transfer fees always inflating in football and the recent takeover. We might have to get used to more expensive signings coming through the door.