Former Sheffield United striker Brian Deane has exclusively told This is Futbol that the Blades sold Dominic Calvert-Lewin too early.
The 24-year-old came through the ranks at Bramall Lane having been at the club since he was a young boy.
However, Calvert-Lewin was never given a fair crack by Sheffield United and was sold by Chris Wilder prior to the start of the 2016-2017 campaign.
But despite failing to get the pleasure of scoring for the club he supports, the England frontman was snapped up by Everton and got a dream move to the Premier League.
Wilder’s decision was justified, though, with the Blades romping to the League One title that season as part of their remarkable climb through the leagues.
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But Calvert-Lewin has gone on to become one of the most lethal strikers in the Premier League, scoring 36 times across the previous two seasons and not only a regular in the England set-up, but is on course to be named in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man Euro’s squad.
And Deane, who scored more than 100 times for the Yorkshire side, told This is Futbol that Sheffield United couldn’t afford to wait around for the now Everton striker. He said:
“When Calvert-Lewin was at Sheffield United, the manager thought that he wouldn’t have time to develop him as a player – they needed someone who was ready.
“At Everton, they could afford to loan him out, play in fits and starts behind people, and that’s the difference. In terms of development, you’ve got to understand where you are.”