Celtic are on the verge of securing a deal with Sheffield United for American centre-back Auston Trusty. The deal, reportedly worth up to £6 million, is expected to be finalised soon, subject to the completion of a medical examination. Trusty has already agreed to personal terms and is set to commit to a five-year contract with the Scottish champions, according to Pete O’Rourke.
Trusty joined Sheffield United from Arsenal last summer in a deal worth around £5 million. He previously established himself as a promising defender in English football during his loan spell with Birmingham City where he won a Player of the Year award.
Could Sheffield United lose duo on deadline day?
Trusty’s arrival will bolster Celtic’s defensive options and add another American defender to go alongside former Blade Cameron Carter-Vickers, as they aim to maintain their dominance in the Scottish Premiership and make a strong impact in European competitions.
This move comes at a time when Sheffield United could potentially lose another key defender, Anel Ahmedhodzic. The Bosnian international has attracted interest from Portuguese giants Porto, who are reportedly considering a move for the 25-year-old. Ahmedhodzic was a standout performer for the Blades during their time in the Championship and is expected to have another big season this time around if he does indeed stay at Bramall Lane beyond transfer deadline day.
Midfielder set for Championship move
In other Blades transfer news, Norwich City are close to agreeing on a deal for Tunisian midfielder Anis Slimane, per Rob Dorsett. The deal, which is expected to be a loan with an option or obligation to buy, would see Slimane strengthen the Canaries’ midfield as they push for promotion back to the Premier League. Slimane arrived at United 12 months ago but he has struggled for game time.
Blades looking to add a mobile striker to the squad
Meanwhile, Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is remaining active in the transfer market with less than 24 hours remaining, with the club reportedly leading the race to sign Leicester City striker Tom Cannon, per the Northern Echo.
Wilder is keen to add more attacking options to his squad, with a winger, midfielder, and a pacey striker high on his list of priorities, per The Star. Cannon, who is known for his ability to stretch defences with his runs in behind, could be the ideal addition to Wilder’s squad as they battle to bounce back up to the Premier League.
Blades need to keep their supporters on side
The Sheffield United faithful will be hoping for a quiet deadline day in terms of Gustavo Hamer, Oli Arblaster and Vinicius Souza remaining at the club given their significant roles in the Championship, but also because of the lack of depth midfield positions. While they would ideally like to keep Ahmedhodzic as well, they do have a ready made replacement in Leicester loanee Harry Souttar.
Keeping their star players in the final week of the summer window will be crucial to keeping their supporters on board to help them in their promotion push back to the Premier League.
United’s fan base played a huge role in their last two automatic promotions in the Championship, and they’ll need them once more in what’s set to be another closely ran second tier campaign. If you’re a Blades fan wanting to cheer on Chris Wilder’s red and white wizards this season, or you simply want to visit the oldest professional stadium in the world, then you can click here to get your match tickets.
