Sheffield United have confirmed the departure of Brazilian midfielder Vinicius Souza, who has joined Bundesliga outfit VfL Wolfsburg for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £13 million.
Sheffield United Identify Promising Midfielder As Vinicius Souza Departs
The 26-year-old becomes the first, and hopefully the last, exit from Bramall Lane this summer, following a season that saw United fail to win promotion via the play-offs in spite of a 92-point winning campaign under now-departed boss Chris Wilder.
Souza was a key presence in the United team last term, combining his defensive attributes and his composure on the ball. While his form was inconsistent during the club’s brief Premier League stint, he had established himself as one of the Blades’ best players under Wilder during the promotion-chasing campaign.
In response, the Blades have identified Mark Kosznovszky of MTK Budapest as a potential replacement, per The Star. The 23-year-old Hungarian is highly rated in his homeland and has been given a seven-figure valuation by his club. The player is also said to have other suitors in the Championship.
Sheffield United Unwilling to Sell Key Man
In terms of more potential outgoings, Everton remain keen on signing 25-year-old standout goalkeeper Michael Cooper, per Alan Nixon, who joined the Blades from Plymouth Argyle last summer and impressed. The Toffees are understood to have submitted a package worth £5 million plus add-ons, but United are holding out for significantly more.
Meanwhile, Cooper himself is said to be reluctant to move unless guaranteed a chance to compete for the number one spot, with sources suggesting he isn’t interested in warming the bench at Goodison Park.
Chris Wilder to Return to Football Management?
In a surprising development, Chris Wilder is being seriously considered for the vacant managerial role at Leicester City, per Alan Nixon. Just weeks after his emotional sacking from Sheffield United, Wilder has made it onto the final shortlist for the Foxes job.
It would mark a swift return to the dugout for the highly experienced Championship manager, and it’d make for a tasty headline on the first game of the season where Leicester City face Sheffield Wednesday. Of course, Wednesday boss, Danny Rohl, has been heavily linked with Leicester for several weeks.
