Fulham made a surprising bid for Sander Berge from Burnley, with whom Manchester United had previously been in contact.
Fulham Have Hefty Bid Accepted for Sander Berge, Manchester United Target
The Athletic have reported that Fulham have “agreed to pay a fee” of £20 million for Berge. There will be an additional £5 million in add-ons potentially paid to Burnley. Personal terms have already been agreed, and the Norwegian’s medical will take place shortly.
Berge was previously linked with Manchester United. The Red Devils had been in contact with the player’s representatives, but it seems that their interest now lies more heavily with Manuel Ugarte.
Why Do Fulham Need Sander Berge?
Marco Silva lost arguably his best player from last season, Joao Palhinha, to Bayern Munich earlier this summer. The Portuguese has been a big part of their team for the past two years, and losing him could see them lose a lot of stability, as shown by United’s success in direct attacks in the Premier League opener.
However, Fulham already have Sasa Lukic and Andreas Pereira, who formed the double-pivot during Friday night’s match. The duo both had respectable season’s last campaign and provide a competent defensive core.
The reason for signing Berge may lie more in his physical strength. He was deemed “excellent” in the Championship, partly due to his ability to bully opposition players off the ball. This allowed him to retain possession successfully, and advance play upfield. Another area in which he has been praised is his passing range. The Cottagers lost a great long passer in Palhinha, and so the signing of Berge may be more related to on-the-ball threat rather than his, still quality, defensive attributes.
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