Fulham are closing in on a deal to land former Arsenal and Liverpool target Sander Berge in a deal worth £20m plus add-ons, according to reports.
Berge was highly rated and even linked with Manchester City while at Genk, but it was ultimately Sheffield United that snapped him up in a bid to ensure Premier League survival in January 2020. It didn’t work, and the Blades were relegated from the top flight to the Championship, where they currently remain.
The Norwegian midfielder has stayed put, however, and has racked up 87 appearances for the Steel City side during his time in Sheffield, while he has also racked up 32 caps for Norway since his debut in 2017.
Now, though, that could be set to change, with Fulham reportedly closing in on a deal for the 24-year-old as they eye up further midfield cover. Joao Palhinha has been something of a revelation since his arrival in west London from Portugal, but with Harrison Reed and Tom Cairney still picking up plenty of minutes even as the Cottagers fly up the Premier League, reinforcements are required.
And Berge is available on the cheap too, as Sheffield United aim to lift the transfer embargo placed upon them by the FA for “defaulting on a payment owed to another club regarding an unspecified player”. A deal worth £20m, which is currently being discussed, would allow them to make this payment and lift the embargo.
Traditionally operating at the base of midfield, Berge would provide excellent cover for Palhinha and could even play alongside him in Marco Silva’s ranks, and could help Fulham consolidate their bright start to the season and fight off the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea for a top seven finish and European football at Craven Cottage next season.
