According to journalist Pete O’Rouke, Sheffield United centre-back Auston Trusty is set to leave the club to join Scottish giants Celtic.
The American international is set to move North after both clubs agreed a fee and the centre-back agreed personal terms.
It was reported, by Pete O’Rouke just a day ago, that the Blades had rejected the first initial £5 million bid from the Bhoys, with United reportedly reluctant to sell. However, it seems as if Celtic’s second bid for the player meets Sheffield United’s evaluation of the defender, with a move now looking more likely.
Celtic manager Brendan Rogers is looking to bring back-to-back titles to Celtic Park. With just over a day of the transfer window left to go, Rogers has been left scrambling for a few more additions before the window slams shut. The Glasgow-based team sold star player Matt O’Riley to Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion for a record-breaking price, and now have the cash to splash before the end of the window. They have identified Trusty as a target, and he is now set to link up with fellow American international Cameron Cater-Vickers. Not only is Rogers looking to go back-to-back, but he is also looking to take Celtic far in Europe, with Champions League football this season. The prospect of playing top-flight, alongside European football looks like it is enough to lure the 26-year-old to Celtic Park.
The former Birmingham City loanee made 34 appearances for Sheffield United last season in the Premier League. He joined the Blades from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee last summer, and could already move clubs with their 2023/24 campaign not going as planned. Chris Wilder’s side experienced relegation straight back down to the second tier of English football. Despite the rumours away, the American has featured this season for the Blades, starting in a draw with Norwich City, and coming on as a substitute midweek in a defeat against Barnsley in the EFL Cup.
It has been a busy window for Wilder, with countless ins and outs at Bramall Lane. Trusty now looks set to join that out list, with many other players linked with moves away before the Friday deadline.
However, departures aside, Sheffield United have had a strong transfer window, beating other clubs to bring the likes of Kieffer Moore, Callum O’Hare, Harrison Burrows, Harry Souttar, Michael Cooper and Jesrun Rak-Sakyi to Bramall Lane.
Trusty is set to become a Celtic player, subject to a medical, before tomorrow’s 11 PM deadline.
Writer’s View
Sheffield United must believe they can get a suitable replacement for Trusty with the club accepting the offer the second time around. It is always hard to do business in the market with the clock ticking, and many clubs will be expecting a busy deadline day tomorrow. The Blades do have the likes of Souttar, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Rhys Norrington-Davies, but ideally, another centre-back or two is needed to provide adequate injury cover and cover for cup competitions.
Picking up Trusty is a good bit of business from Celtic. Not only will he know his new centre-back partner well from a national team setting, but he is also a player who has MLS, Championship and Premier League experience. Time is still on his side, and could prove to be crucial for Celtic this season, with their current lack of centre-backs.
Be the first to comment