Outgoing? SANDER BERGE ON WAY OUT ?

[billyblademan]

That "The Bladesman" twitter account must spend literally many many hours every day putting out Berge leaving tweets, each one involving zero new content or actual quotes. Staggering even for the low bar of social media.
Got to be a Wednesdayite or Berge's agent?!

Bladesman tweets from whatever reports are out there. I personally hadn't heard those PH quotes in the post match interviews that I saw, so found it interesting. The account also tweets transfer rumours from reputable sources.

 

[Mouth of the South]

That "The Bladesman" twitter account must spend literally many many hours every day putting out Berge leaving tweets, each one involving zero new content or actual quotes. Staggering even for the low bar of social media.
Got to be a Wednesdayite or Berge's agent?!

Eh?? All 5 of the tweets above contain a direct quote from PH

 

[Bladesman]

Bladesman tweets from whatever reports are out there. I personally hadn't heard those PH quotes in the post match interviews that I saw, so found it interesting. The account also tweets transfer rumours from reputable sources.

Also, I don't run that account. It's an account that just collates club news that is already out there, tweets about the matches and does a blade of the day. It's still 100 times better than what The Star put out.

 

[HVR]

They should have had a go to list for weeks now, Hecky should have it on his desk right now, and phone calls about likely availability should have been made, this is how clubs with a can do, must do mentality work, not a shoulder shrug and "poor old us again".

The board might be delusional to think they can get £35 million, or they actually set that figure, because they knew no-one would pay it and the 'buy out' clause was the only way he would sign (pre-covid, so that figure might not have looked quite so high to his agent as it does now).

However, as you point out about looking for a replacement - they may actually be doing this in private. But it all depends on what offers there have been and how close they are:
£10 million - No chance, we keep him.
£20 million - Not bad, is it worth selling him now or next season for less? Let's see who's out there.
£25 million - OK this is tempting, might get them up to £28 million plus add-ons, let's start talking to other clubs.

However, if real and actual bids (not paper talk) started around the £10 million mark 6 months ago and are increasing in small amounts and there's no way the prospective clubs will get close to £25 million by the end of the window - not sure it's worth actively talking to other clubs - only the board knows what cast-iron offers have been made.

 

[Blacksea]

The board might be delusional to think they can get £35 million, or they actually set that figure, because they knew no-one would pay it and the 'buy out' clause was the only way he would sign (pre-covid, so that figure might not have looked quite so high to his agent as it does now).

However, as you point out about looking for a replacement - they may actually be doing this in private. But it all depends on what offers there have been and how close they are:
£10 million - No chance, we keep him.
£20 million - Not bad, is it worth selling him now or next season for less? Let's see who's out there.
£25 million - OK this is tempting, might get them up to £28 million plus add-ons, let's start talking to other clubs.

However, if real and actual bids (not paper talk) started around the £10 million mark 6 months ago and are increasing in small amounts and there's no way the prospective clubs will get close to £25 million by the end of the window - not sure it's worth actively talking to other clubs - only the board knows what cast-iron offers have been made.

Theres still the loan route if we don't get the cash we want,obviously I hope we keep him,but we need to be proactive and prepare for both outcomes at whatever selling price

 

[nopigfansintown]

The board might be delusional to think they can get £35 million, or they actually set that figure, because they knew no-one would pay it and the 'buy out' clause was the only way he would sign (pre-covid, so that figure might not have looked quite so high to his agent as it does now).

However, as you point out about looking for a replacement - they may actually be doing this in private. But it all depends on what offers there have been and how close they are:
£10 million - No chance, we keep him.
£20 million - Not bad, is it worth selling him now or next season for less? Let's see who's out there.
£25 million - OK this is tempting, might get them up to £28 million plus add-ons, let's start talking to other clubs.

However, if real and actual bids (not paper talk) started around the £10 million mark 6 months ago and are increasing in small amounts and there's no way the prospective clubs will get close to £25 million by the end of the window - not sure it's worth actively talking to other clubs - only the board knows what cast-iron offers have been made.

If they don't have irons in the fire ready to proceed on in the eventuality that Berge goes they are neglecting their duty imo (especially with the release clause). There'll be a number: it's either the release clause or a figure beneath this.

 

[Blade58]

Klopp stating Keita is going nowhere.

That could mean the end of any interest in Berge which is good news

Just need to fk off the rest of those that may be sniffing

 

[alcoblade]

United don't have any players on huge wages at Championship level really. Berge is believed to be the biggest earner on 35,000. The players have had 50% wage cuts when relegated and a further cut this season on what was a really low premier league wage bill (source Wilder/media) . A number of players from the premier league days have also signed new deals in the Championship (Basham, Robinson, Sharp). Baldock signed one when the relegation writing was on the wall - you'd presume his deal reflects this.

We've only made two permanent signing since relegation Anel, Davies (goalkeeper)). We do however have some youth prospects breaking into the team (Jebbo, Osula, Ndiaye, Arblaster, Gordon) and some returning loans Lowe, Coulibaly, RND, that are probably on decent contracts given their status in the game. At the end of this season we can remove Osborn, O'Connell, Sharp, Mcburnie, Fleck, Norwood, Foderingham, Robinson and Stevens from that wage bill if we so wish. We have already lost Mcgoldrick, Freeman, Verrips, Burke, Moussett, Ramsdale, Lundstram, Moore, Jagielka, Bryan and Rodwell that were on legacy Prem contracts. The loans will also go back.

The reason United didn't go big on wages is that we could reset after relegation to a post parachute world without the need for a fire sale. Having said that in an interview last year the Prince said that our plans were predicated on the sales of Ramsdale AND Berge. Whether our lack of permanent signing in the last two seasons reflect the failure to sell him, or whether we still need to sell him notwithstanding this remains to be seen. I guess we'll find out in the next week or so.

All very good points - but not much of this wasn’t known when Darren Smith declared we needed to raise another £15m to cover the shortfall.

 

[Tarqs]

Also, I don't run that account. It's an account that just collates club news that is already out there, tweets about the matches and does a blade of the day. It's still 100 times better than what The Star put out.

Nah shield is currently writing an excluding on us being interested in Yerson Chacon....

And hes 21

 

[nopigfansintown]

Klopp stating Keita is going nowhere.

That could mean the end of any interest in Berge which is good news

Just need to fk off the rest of those that may be sniffing

Liverpool need midfielders anyway imo. They have Keita (injury prone), Milner (old, can only be a rotation player), Henderson (injury prone), Fabinho (injury prone), Oxlade Chamberlain ( long term injured and injury prone), Thiago (injured and injury prone). Jones and Elliott are young and unlikely to be relied upon. It'd be a considerable gamble to go with what they've got with all their games. Of course none of that means they'll go for Berge or that they can finance a new signing. They let Morton out on loan (he came on for Blackburn).

 

[ben1987]

Liverpool rumoured to be in for Jacob Ramsey and Moises Caicedo. Hopefully they get them instead.

 

[Yogi]

Liverpool need midfielders anyway imo. They have Keita (injury prone), Milner (old, can only be a rotation player), Henderson (injury prone), Fabinho (injury prone), Oxlade Chamberlain ( long term injured and injury prone), Thiago (injured and injury prone). Jones and Elliott are young and unlikely to be relied upon. It'd be a considerable gamble to go with what they've got with all their games. Of course none of that means they'll go for Berge or that they can finance a new signing. They let Morton out on loan (he came on for Blackburn).

Apparently they’ve ceased all interest in other high value targets after Real Madrid signed Tchouameni and are fully focused on Bellingham next summer. They’ll be trying to get that deal all agreed in principle this season.

 

[Belvedere Blade]

Jurgen Klopp appears to quash Liverpool transfer option amid Sander Berge link

The Reds boss says Naby Keita will not be leaving Anfield even though he is entering the final year of his contract

www.examinerlive.co.uk

 

[HVR]

Theres still the loan route if we don't get the cash we want,obviously I hope we keep him,but we need to be proactive and prepare for both outcomes at whatever selling price

I totally agree with your point, mate. I was just thinking about the actual bids we've received and what they were. The negotiations team at the Blades have obviously done this before, and must have a feel of the intensity and determination of the bids so far and should know how committed the clubs are.
Take Ramsdale - Arsenal wanted him, and made a bid, let's say £12m (rejected) then a few weeks later, £15m (rejected) then £20m (rejected) then the winning bid.
However, if there's a club out the who've bid £10m (rejected) then £11m, then £12m etc., the negotiators at SUFC might just be thinking, it's a tyrekicking bid and have probably dealt with lots of these over the years - ie, a Belgium Club who's fannied about for the last 6 months creeping up from £10m to £13m, is unlikely to drop another £15m extra in the next few weeks.
But you are right, if the bids are getting higher we do need to start preparing for him to leave and find a replacement.
Just the fact there's no rumours about us looking at other midfielders makes me think there's no bids even close.

 

[Keen Blade]

Honestly don’t see him leaving unless his release fee is met now. Sell him on the cheap (£25m+) or keep him and win promotion (£150m+). Those are the kind of numbers the Prince likes to see.

Especially if it won't be Wilder spending the £150m on duds after promotion

 

[TopBoy]

After the start we've had, I wonder, just wonder, if we could convince Berge to stay until January. If we're out of touch then sell him at slightly less than today's price. If we're top 2 then maybe it'll be worth a gamble to keep him until Summer 2023.

 

[Toronto Blade]

Clubs will be more desperate in January along with their managers of those not doing as well as expected. Someone will bid the asking price especially if he keeps playing the way he is.

 

[Keen Blade]

If they don't have irons in the fire ready to proceed on in the eventuality that Berge goes they are neglecting their duty imo (especially with the release clause). There'll be a number: it's either the release clause or a figure beneath this.

Exactly.
There will be a shortlist of potential replacements to be activated if a bid is accepted.
They might not be Berge calibre , but PH would be crazy not to bring in a mf + maybe even a striker (players with potential to develop with us) on permanent contracts.

 

[ekke287]

After the start we've had, I wonder, just wonder, if we could convince Berge to stay until January. If we're out of touch then sell him at slightly less than today's price. If we're top 2 then maybe it'll be worth a gamble to keep him until Summer 2023.

I’m not sure Berge needs convincing to stay, he seems to be enjoying himself and his football atm, and doesn’t seem the type to throw his toys out of the pram.

His agent however, we have no idea, and we know how much they control proceedings.

Please don’t go Sander, such a beautiful player and an absolute baller. I can’t take two heartbreaks after MGW left…

 

[Mouth of the South]

I think a reality check is needed here. Yes, for the first time during his time with Utd, Berge is showing consistent form (although he was probably a 7/10 on Sat), but if anyone seriously thinks he's enjoying himself so much that he'd pass-up playing for a top flight side, potentially playing in European competition, on at least double his salary they are delusional.

He is acting is a very professional way and performing on the pitch, which may well be attracting suitors and/or increased offers, but let's not kid ourselves that he now has some sort of affinity with the club that's so strong that he'd choose to remain over moving to a bigger, more successful, higher paying club.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

I think a reality check is needed here. Yes, for the first time during his time with Utd, Berge is showing consistent form (although he was probably a 7/10 on Sat), but if anyone seriously thinks he's enjoying himself so much that he'd pass-up playing for a top flight side, potentially playing in European competition, on at least double his salary they are delusional.

He is acting is a very professional way and performing on the pitch, which may well be attracting suitors and/or increased offers, but let's not kid ourselves that he now has some sort of affinity with the club that's so strong that he'd choose to remain over moving to a bigger, more successful, higher paying club.

I think for a top side to go in for him seriously he would need to be at this level uninjured until January

 

[Bladeinleeds]

I think a reality check is needed here. Yes, for the first time during his time with Utd, Berge is showing consistent form (although he was probably a 7/10 on Sat), but if anyone seriously thinks he's enjoying himself so much that he'd pass-up playing for a top flight side, potentially playing in European competition, on at least double his salary they are delusional.

He is acting is a very professional way and performing on the pitch, which may well be attracting suitors and/or increased offers, but let's not kid ourselves that he now has some sort of affinity with the club that's so strong that he'd choose to remain over moving to a bigger, more successful, higher paying club.

All you can ask for is him not being a dickhead about things and try and tank his value or our bargaining position by demanding a move and being vocal in the press.

He might be enjoying his football but 100% would not pass up a move to a top division and a massive payrise. Not many people would do

 

[Mouth of the South]

I think for a top side to go in for him seriously he would need to be at this level uninjured until January

Possibly so BiL but him leaving in Jan would be devastating if Utd are still up there with a chance of finishing in the top 2. TBH if he's going to leave, it may be better for him to do so now to enable Utd to either recruit prior to the 2-Sept or, more likely, line signing/s up for Jan.

However, I suspect / hear whispers that the offers aren't far off an acceptable level so I expect him to go in the next couple of weeks.

 

[HVR]

He might be worried about his International career, but Norway isn't exactly a 'Triple A' Nation. If we were struggling in the Championship, with poor players and tactics unsuitable for him, then I could understand him wanting to move on.
But in a team with skilful players around him, giving him time and the freedom to play his preferred style, being involved, creating assists, scoring goals and Sheffield Untied sitting at the top of the League - winning games and playing outstanding football - with video highlights beamed around the world - such as the goal on Saturday - then for the Manager of Norway, that surely will tweak his interest more than if Sander was sat on the bench at Everton?
But, as mentioned above, he might just want more money in his pocket, or his agent eyeing a nice cut of any transfer deal.

 

[mattbianco1]

That "The Bladesman" twitter account must spend literally many many hours every day putting out Berge leaving tweets, each one involving zero new content or actual quotes. Staggering even for the low bar of social media.
Got to be a Wednesdayite or Berge's agent?!

He has literally tweeted United news for years.

 

[Snowflake]

I think a reality check is needed here. Yes, for the first time during his time with Utd, Berge is showing consistent form (although he was probably a 7/10 on Sat), but if anyone seriously thinks he's enjoying himself so much that he'd pass-up playing for a top flight side, potentially playing in European competition, on at least double his salary they are delusional.

He is acting is a very professional way and performing on the pitch, which may well be attracting suitors and/or increased offers, but let's not kid ourselves that he now has some sort of affinity with the club that's so strong that he'd choose to remain over moving to a bigger, more successful, higher paying club.

All true, but if he remains professional and honest then it is up to SUFC and not him whether he leaves.
He doesn’t appear to be a Lundstram type.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Brugge are negotiating the sale of one of their midfielders to West Ham for circa £10m.

Probably their ticket to an increased offer for Berge.

I hope he doesn't go there. Selfishly and for Berge's sake.
A PL club will come knocking before long if he performs here.

 

[bertieblade]

Although Bruge play champions league the overall standard of their league is lower than championship.
If I were Berge I would sit tight until a PL club comes knocking, more money, better environment to work in and a proper test of his ability

 

[LondonBlade89]

I'd obviously sooner he didn't but if I was Klopp I'd absolutely bid £25 million for Sander Berge. Could see him working so well with Thiago and Henderson. There's a real balance there.

 

[Charlieblade]

I think a reality check is needed here. Yes, for the first time during his time with Utd, Berge is showing consistent form (although he was probably a 7/10 on Sat), but if anyone seriously thinks he's enjoying himself so much that he'd pass-up playing for a top flight side, potentially playing in European competition, on at least double his salary they are delusional.

He is acting is a very professional way and performing on the pitch, which may well be attracting suitors and/or increased offers, but let's not kid ourselves that he now has some sort of affinity with the club that's so strong that he'd choose to remain over moving to a bigger, more successful, higher paying club.

I agree up to a point. As a Berge fan, I want him to stay, but realistically, even if we get promoted, that’s no guarantee of Champions league football.
After a really shitty time so far at United, he is starting to attract offers. He needs to be very careful with his next choice.
Big wages is one thing, but ambitious players with his quality need to find a club that can guarantee him the chance of winning the champions league.
There are very few clubs who can do that, in the PL or in Europe.
Man City, Bayern are the only teams I can think of with those prospects? Twelve months ago, you could probably add half a dozen clubs to that list. Very difficult decision for a clearly talented young player.