Sheffield United is on the verge of securing their fourth signing this summer as Auston Trusty looks set to add depth to the left side of the defence.
The 24-year-old left-footed central defender is set to make a permanent move from Arsenal, providing a significant defensive boost for manager Paul Heckingbottom’s squad. The reported fee for the transfer is approximately £5m, per Yorkshire Live.
Trusty perfectly aligns with the club’s transfer strategy of acquiring young, talented players who have the potential to thrive in the Premier League. This signing comes just 11 days before the start of the new campaigns, and it’s much needed considering the club only has one senior left-footed centre back at the club, Jack Robinson.
The American impressed everybody during his loan spell for Birmingham City last campaign. He started 44 Championship games for the Blues, seeing 13 clean sheets [SofaScore]. And he chipped in with the goals scoring four times. His performances even saw him earn the club’s Player of The Year award.
Birmingham City’s manager John Eustace spoke about his admiration for the player in an interview with Birmingham Live earlier this year:
“He is very robust, he is an athlete, very fit, a top professional. He has come over from the States and he is just living football. He has got no distractions. He goes home, watches football, comes back, plays football, eats the right stuff. He is a true professional.
He added:
“I would love to keep him. I am sure there is a chance, definitely, but it’s out of my control. All I can say is I would love to keep him at the football club and I think all the fans would love to see him stay at the football club as well. When we want to build those are the kind of characters we want here so he would be top of my list.”
Trusty’s athleticism and flexibility make him a viable option for the left-back and wide centre-back role, as well as a more conventional central defender.
