According to the Bristol Post, Josh Brownhill is being monitored by Sheffield United. The central midfielder reportedly has a £7 million release clause in his contract. But the release clause can only be activated in this coming summer window, which means if the Blades want to make use of this part of his contract, a deal can’t happen this window.
But with the player a regular in the Bristol City outfit this season, playing 28 games, scoring five goals and registering two assists, there is no wonder why Sheffield United are in for him. The Bristol Post does suggest that the Premier League club could be looking to agree upon a deal for the player this window, however, to beat the rush. But is it worth it?
TIF Tactics – Do Sheffield United need to sign Brownhill right now?
In terms of goalscoring midfielders, Sheffield United already have a few players on hand. John Fleck has five goals in 22 appearances, John Lundstram has three in 23 and Oliver Norwood has two in 25. These statistics can be found on transfermarkt.co.uk. It is evident that Sheffield United are not in desperate need of a midfielder capable of banging in goals.
Do you think Sheffield United need to sign Brownhill in January?
Yes
No
But with Fleck and Norwood being 28 years old each, it is perhaps time to start thinking about bringing in some new blood. A 24-year-old Brownhill should just be hitting his peak years and would provide Wilder with a quality player for the better part of a decade if he signs right now. However, Fleck and Norwood are not on the verge of retirement either.
So, signing Brownhill would certainly be a decent move for the Blades. However, there’s no real need to rush into signing him if they can get him for a discount rate in the summer. With the success Sheffield United have seen this season, they must be confident in the fact they can convince the player to join their side when the summer window opens. That way, they can plan for the future without having to spend excessive money on it.