According to reports, Sheffield United midfielder Vinicius Souza is the latest target for Fulham, but the Blades have slapped an enormous price tag on his back, according to reports.
The Brazilian joined the newly promoted Premier League side in the summer of 2023 on a four-year deal. The 25-year-old would appear over 35 times in all competitions for the Blades but, despite having a decent season at Bramall Lane, the club would be relegated to the Championship.
His stats for last season’s campaign suggest why the Cottagers are interested in his services. For example, he was in the top 1% for tackles per 90 in Europe’s top five leagues. Alongside his impressive tackling, he is also within the top 5% for blocks and clearances. This is important for Fulham as Bernd Leno finished third in the league for clean sheets with 10 all season, thus emphasising their commitment to defending.
In addition, Marco Silva’s side is targeting a similar profile to Joao Palhinha who was also in the top 1% for tackles per 90 at 5.07. Therefore, this clearly shows why the London-based side are interested in the defensive midfielder.
Some of the 25-year-old’s best attributes include his height and physicality, which he utilises to shut down attackers. As a ball-winning midfielder, Souza offers great cover for the defensive line.
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His impressive first season in English football has intrigued many clubs around the country and his performances in a midfield that would rarely see the ball didn’t go unnoticed, having led to interest from Fulham.
After Palhinha’s departure from Craven Cottage to Bayern Munich, a capable replacement is needed. The Portugal international was integral to Silva’s side and will be deeply missed. As a result of needing a replacement, Souza has now been linked with the club. Journalist Alan Nixon has reported that the South Yorkshire outfit wants a whopping £30 million fee for the Brazilian midfielder.
However, the Cottagers are said to rate him in the £15 million bracket. This could become an issue and with European interest still there, Fulham could miss out. Despite this, Nixon did point out that Fulham had cash from the Palhinha deal and a need for a like-for-like replacement.
The report also stated that the ex-Espanyol star is keen to leave Sheffield United after one season in the Premier League. This is justified given the interest from clubs playing at a higher level and the lack of stability at Bramall Lane currently due to the ongoing takeover talks.
Writer’s View
This could be a great move for all parties depending on the final fee. If Sheffield United are able to earn £30 million in this deal, they can fund many more players and improve the overall squad. It would also be an overall profit from their initial deal that cost around £10 million to bring him to England.
As for Souza, he is provided with another chance at playing in the top tier of English football. However, this time he can play for a more ambitious side given Fulham’s 13th-placed finish last season in the Premier League.
Fulham could also see a great outcome in this deal. As a result of selling Palhinha to former Burnley manager Vincent Kompany, they have around £50 million to spend and Souza could be a cost-effective replacmenet.
