Manchester United’s transfer window recently took an unexpected turn which was both good, and bad news simultaneously.
Bad, because Manuel Ugarte was long tipped as the player to watch out for among midfield targets, even agreeing on personal terms.
Good, because Ineos finally fixed a two-decade-long Glazer problem by not bowing down to exorbitant demands and standing their ground.
What is necessary, however, is a pivot to another target, and Sander Berge of Burnley has been the first concrete link to pop up.
We spoke to Lee Connor, a lifetime Sheffield United fan who saw the Norwegian’s first foray into English football with The Blades to get an idea of Sander Berge’s playing style and how he would fit in at United.
Sander Berge’s playing style
Berge arrived at Sheffield United in 2020 for a club-record fee. It was regarded as a huge coup at the time since he had been named in the Champions League’s breakthrough team the previous season when he was playing for Genk.
He couldn’t save the team from relegation as he missed the latter half of the season due to injury but his stock was at an all-time high. Still, Berge chose to remain with The Blades, got them promoted back to the Premier League before joining Burnley.
This time, Burnley got relegated but Berge remains a valued quantity. Lee Connor says Berge is quality, but is doubtful that he can be a direct alternative to Ugarte due to the vast difference in their playing styles.
He said: “He’s absolutely not a ‘destroyer’. There’s a question over where he’s even what people say is a number 6 nowadays. Burnley used him that way but he was always at his best for Sheffield United when he was allowed freedom to go forward. When he’s driving with the ball, not many can stop him due to his size and power.”
Progressing the ball from deep is what Erik ten Hag wanted Frenkie de Jong for, but that need was fulfilled when Kobbie Mainoo took the football world by storm.
Still, Berge has been looked at by Liverpool previously, and United’s interest in not new either. Clubs see something in him and Connor says something similar, believing his game will improve if he plays with better players.
He said: “he is remarkably calm in possession and I have always wondered if he’d thrive alongside better players. Initially, he didn’t fit well [At Sheffield United] as the midfield 3 was so set and performing well. Over time, he worked his way into the side and the year in the Championship when we got promoted he absolutely thrived.”
Connor is certain that the time for Berge to move is now as he deems the player ready after a couple of chastening experiences in England. However, he is by no means a complete asset right now. There are still chinks in his armour that he needs to fix, starting with a major one.
Connor said: “He is poor in the air for a man who is around 6ft 4. One of the other issues Blades had was he seemingly got nudged around a bit too easily by some, again, given his size.
“If he’s ever going to be ready, the time is now. He was a standout at Burnley despite them going down so really, if he’s going to get a big move, it’s now. Liverpool have looked at him in the past so there’s obviously something big clubs like about him.
As for Man United, it all just depends. He’s good enough to play, just depends on whether they can fit him into the system and if they’re playing well in general.”
Ineos have earned trust by now to make fans believe that if they end up pivoting to Berge, there is a plan in place on how to use him. He is clearly not a like-for-like replacement for Ugarte, and his fit next to Mainoo could leave United short at the back during transitions.
However, he has shown that he is malleable in how he can be used and Ten Hag has also proved he’s not stuck to one formation, ending last season with a 4-2-2-2 system with fluid strikers. Right now, Berge seems like a decent option to add to the midfield ranks, especially if it’s at an affordable price.
Depending upon his growth and potential, they can take a call on whether a more marquee name is needed next summer when Casemiro’s contract will become further easier to shift.
