Sheffield United linked with seven time capped Colombian midfielder

Sheffield United are interested in signing former Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Steven Alzate, as per AS Colombia.

The 25-year-old has been set for release at the end of his contract this month, and now the former Seagulls player is weighing up his options ahead of the new season in August.

Alzate, the Colombian international, has spent the last two campaigns on loan at Standard Liege in the Belgian first division where he amassed a total of 54 matches, in which he supplied nine assists and five goals.

Sheffield United are in desperate need of players, and fast, with the club facing arguably their biggest squad rebuild and transfer window in the club’s history. Getting it wrong this summer will be catastrophic and could potentially undo all the hard work that has gone into a successful spell since the start of the 2016/17 campaign.

Even with a takeover taking place the Blades would still need to shop in the free agent and loan markets this summer due to the gigantic reconstruction job at hand.

Steven Alzate would be a good cheap signing for Sheffield United

Players such as Alan Browne, Alex Mowatt and Paddy McNair should be priority signings through the early stages of the transfer window, which opens on June 14. And Steven Alzate is another player that should be on the list due to his versatility and the nature of the deal.

Alzate has demonstrated that he can play in numerous positions across several formations. He can play as a sitting midfielder in a two, a wide midfielder almost in a roaming playmaker role (similar to the role Sander Berge played for us), and he can play as the link player between the midfielder and attack, often finding pockets of space.

What stands out to me about Alzate is his ability to play and receive the ball under pressure. He has very good composure, and if the Blades are to sign a goalkeeper that can distribute the ball well, the likes of Alzate and Oli Arblaster can drop to receive the ball and their abilities are both well suited to playing against a tight press.

In the last 365 days, Alzate has recorded some interesting numbers which point him out to be a well-balanced midfielder. Compared to other midfielders in the Belgian top-flight, Alzate ranks in the 92nd percentile for assists. Additionally, he ranks in the 72nd percentile for pass completion percentage, 74th in progressive carries, and 77th in successful take-ons.

He also has demonstrated his ability to break up the opposition play by ranking in the 71st percentile for players tackled and 73rd for blocks made, whether that be a shot or a pass.

Interestingly, albeit in different leagues, there is a similarity in his game to the recently called up England midfielder Adam Wharton. Although not necessarily the same style of play, their performance metrics compare closely on FBref.

Another player Alzate matches up quite well with is another apparent target of the Blades, Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien.