Sheffield United have yet to make contact with Sunderland over a deal for Anthony Patterson, according to reports, despite rumours linking the goalkeeper with a switch to Bramall Lane.
The Blades have known for quite some time that they would be relegated from the Premier League after a disastrous campaign but the club’s condemnation to the Championship was confirmed at the end of April following a 5-1 defeat away at Newcastle United.
Sheffield United Keen To Sign £850K Championship Ace This Summer
The South Yorkshire outfit were one of the newly-promoted teams at the beginning of the season, alongside Burnley and Luton Town, who were making their debut in the English top-flight. Unfortunately, the trio were relegated at the first time of asking, setting a new record in the division for the lowest combined points total, accumulating merely 66 points – an average of 22 points per team.
Under Paul Heckingbottom and later Chris Wilder, Sheffield United ended the campaign with just 16 points from 38 matches, picking up three victories in the meantime which came against Luton, Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Blades now hold the record for the third-lowest points total in the league’s history behind Derby County from 2007/08 and Sunderland from 2005/06.
Work is now taking place behind the scenes to strengthen the squad ahead of another season in the second tier, with an eye to fighting for promotion once more. One name reportedly on the club’s list is Sunderland shot-stopper Anthony Patterson.
Sheffield United are said to be keen to sign the 24-year-old this summer but the Sunderland Echo has provided an update on this transfer saga, claiming that the Blades have not made any contact with the Black Cats over a potential deal.
The outlet does state that United’s interest in Patterson may be genuine, but simply that the club have not started negotiating with Sunderland about the possibility of luring him to Bramall Lane.
Writer’s View
Relegation from the Premier League was always likely for Sheffield United, particularly since the departures of both Sander Berge to Burnley and Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille. However, as of next season, Wilder’s side will have one of the largest budgets in the Championship.
Patterson is a possible signing for the Blades, but with competition from the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Celtic, getting this deal over the line seems unlikely. Furthermore, Sunderland are said to be looking for a fee of around £10 million or more which would be a significant portion of Sheffield United’s transfer kitty this summer.