Emmanuel Dennis has been in sensational form in the last few years for Club Brugge (Getty Images)
According to Walfoot (h/t Burnley Express), Sheffield United have entered the race to sign Club Brugge star Emmanuel Dennis to bolster their attack. However, the Blades could face competition to secure the Nigerian’s services as Serie A outfit Atalanta are ready to table an offer for the striker, as per the report.
Born in Nigeria, Dennis rose through the ranks of Accademia di Abuja in his hometown and joined Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk in the summer of 2016. After impressing in the Premier Liga with 6 goals in 22 games, he was signed by Brugge the following summer.
Since then, he has established himself as a key member of the squad and has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the Belgian outfit, scoring 28 goals in the process. He also helped his side lift two league titles and caught the attention in this season’s Champions League when he scored 2 goals against Real Madrid in the group stages.
The 22-year-old has also been capped two times by Nigeria since making his debut for them last September.
Chris Wilder’s side were a surprise package in the top-flight this season as they managed to beat all the odds and finish 9th in the league standings. They have been brilliant throughout the camp but their inconsistency in the last few games cost them a place in Europa League competition.
However, it is time for the manager to bring in reinforcements if they are to take themselves to a higher level. And one key area which needs to be strengthened is the centre-forward position. Lys Mousset and Oliver McBurnie are the two regular starters, who finished as the top scorers with 6 goals each.
Club captain Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick also did a decent job throughout the campaign. However, both of them are above 30 and are reaching the twilight of their careers. Thus, it is necessary for the Blades to consider making a move for a young striker with a view for the future.
In that regard, Dennis would be a fantastic option for the club. The Nigerian international has already shown immense potential and has proved his worth in some big games. Given he is young, he should get better with experience.
His inclusion would definitely add depth to the Blades’ attacking unit, whilst also bringing healthy competition to the squad. And if he is able to develop himself under the guidance of Wilder, he could go on to lead their attack in the future.
With two of their strikers ageing, it is clear that Sheffield are in dire need of centre-forwards for the future. And Dennis, who is just 22, could provide them with some much-needed quality. He could go on to represent them in the long run. Thus, signing him this summer would be a wise decision by the Blades.
