SAITAMA, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 05: Kaoru Mitoma of Japan celebrates their second goal during the FIFA World Cup Asian 3rd Qualifier Group C match between Japan and China at Saitama Stadium on September 05, 2024 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
Pundit predicts Sheffield United to seriously consider Brighton transfer approach amid £20m claims.
Ex-England international midfielder turned pundit Carlton Palmer believes that Sheffield United must entertain reported Premier League interest in Ollie Arblaster, but should make sure that he returns to Bramall Lane on loan for the rest of the season if he departs permanently in January.
The Blades starlet has been the subject of apparent transfer interest from Brighton & Hove Albion, according to transfer journalist Alan Nixon, via Patreon, who states that the Seagulls are willing to pay over £20 million for his services.
Nixon adds that an offer is likely to be made in the January transfer window, and the 20-year-old has been identified as Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler’s top target for 2025.
Arblaster is a boyhood Blade who made his debut for the club in 2022, and he has grown into one of Chris Wilder’s most important players since the turn of the year following his loan stint with Port Vale, while attracting reported transfer attention from numerous top flight sides throughout the summer window off the back of his impressive performances in the Premier League.
Carlton Palmer: Sheffield United should consider Ollie Arblaster offers in January
Carlton Palmer
Arblaster has featured in all of the Blades’ first four league games this season and netted goals against Preston North End and Norwich City, whilst also being made captain by Wilder for the last two outings.
Speaking exclusively to Football League World, the aforementioned Palmer believes that Sheffield United should consider any potential bids from Brighton for Arblaster in January, but will likely want to include the caveat that he stays at Bramall Lane for the remainder of the campaign, especially if they are battling for promotion.
“(The potential move) falls into Brighton’s model that they sign young players, develop them and sell them on,” Palmer told FLW.
“(Arblaster) has a very bright future. Obviously Sheffield United are looking to get promoted back to the Premier League at the first attempt, and (he) is happy at the club – he’s a Sheffield United supporter.
“I think it will depend on where they are in the table come January, and it might be a case of yes, they do the deal, but he then stays at United until the end of the season to help them get promoted.
“Obviously when you start looking at that type of money for a young player, and they’d get a big sell on, I would have thought, then it’s something that Sheffield United could be looking at, for sure.
“We’ll have to wait and see on this one. If Sheffield United are not in the mix for going up, although I personally think that they will be, they may (entertain it.)
“If an offer comes in of that type of money for a young player, you have to look at it.
“Chris Wilder and Sheffield United, if they were to entertain it, would probably seek a deal that means he stays on loan until the end of the season there.”
Sheffield United will not want to sell but may consider sizeable Arblaster bids
Oliver Arblaster for Sheffield United
It is pretty obvious that the Blades will not want to sell Arblaster anytime soon, but a decent offer from the Seagulls will surely tempt them into negotiations in January – likely dependent on their position in the table at that time.
Wilder will be thankful that he does not need to worry about any actual advances until the new year, especially after a busy transfer window, yet Arblaster himself will surely see a move to the south coast as a sensible next step in his short career so far, should an approach be made.
He has been a talismanic figure for Wilder since his appointment last December, as he returned from a loan at Port Vale in League One to be thrust straight into Premier League action, and barely put a foot wrong despite a tough relegation campaign.
