Brentford kicked off the 2024/25 campaign with three points against Crystal Palace on Sunday – and the Bees now believe they could beat Ipswich and Southampton to the signing of a Sheffield United player.
Thomas Frank has spent heavily on just two signings so far this summer, with Igor Thiago arriving in a £30m move from Club Brugge, while £27.5m was spent to sign Fabio Carvalho from Liverpool.
Now, Brentford think they could poach one of Sheffield United‘s top talents as well – someone Southampton and Ipswich also like…
Brentford could sign Oliver Arblaster from Sheffield United
Mike McGrath of the Telegraph has now revealed that Brentford view Sheffield United No.4 Oliver Arblaster as a “potential signing” before the transfer window ends on Friday 30th August.
The respected journalist adds that Ipswich and Southampton are also fans of the England U20 international – who scored in Sheffield United’s opening day win over Preston.
Admirably, the 20-year-old has made a huge impression at Bramall Lane in recent times, with Chris Wilder even making the central midfielder his captain in two Premier League games at the end of last season.
Arblaster, who is also wanted by West Ham and Aston Villa, wore the armband as Sheffield United suffered a 4-2 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford, before again captaining the Blades in a 5-1 loss to Newcastle.
Wilder’s decision speaks even greater volumes, as the central midfielder did not even begin the 2023/24 campaign at Sheffield United, as he was on loan at Port Vale in League One.
Brentford, Ipswich or Southampton would surely have to spend millions
For Sheffield United to sell Arblaster this late in the window – a player who is contracted to the Blades until July 2028 – it would surely take a monumental bid.
As aforesaid, Wilder thinks very highly of the Sheffield United academy graduate, and there is little time for the 56-year-old to replace such an important player of this quality with just 11 days of the transfer window remaining.
Nevertheless, if a deal happened, one of Frank, Kieran McKenna or Russell Martin would be getting themselves a top talent, who clearly has a very bright future in the game.
Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as Newcastle are also keen to sign Arblaster this summer.