Rhian Brewster Set to Join Sheffield United in £23M Deal

Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

The young Liverpool striker will be joining the Blades shortly.

Even a month ago, Rhian Brewster seemed to be assured of a Liverpool future with the 20-year-old striker one of the club’s top rated prospects and coming off a stellar six-month loan spell with Swansea to end last season.

Today, he’s set to join Sheffield United in a permanent £23M deal, though according to club-connected journalists Liverpool have a three-year window to trigger a buyback on the player. There will also be a 15% sell-on clause.

For those who had tracked his rise at the club since defecting from Chelsea’s academy at the age of 14 and who had believed he had a bright future in front of him in Liverpool red, this will be a disappointing day.

The reality appears to be, though, that despite his natural talent as a goalscorer he was not a natural fit for any of the forward positions that the club currently play—and his departure suggests that situation won’t be changing soon.

Liverpool rely on their wingers to be their primary goal threats, and Brewster never had the pace or dribbling skills to deputise Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and now Diogo Jota, while the striker position has become defined by Roberto Firmino.

There, Takumi Minamino has arrived and established himself as second choice, blocking Brewster’s path to minutes at the central forward position. Meanwhile, at Sheffield, he could walk straight into the starting eleven.

Sheffield United have struggled for goals this season—and last, too—and have a scarcity of options up front. For Sheffield, Brewster fills a clear need and his obvious talents will be put to good use in the coming seasons.

As much as many Liverpool fans had allowed themselves to become invested in Brewster’s talent and promise, this is a deal that appears to benefit all parties, and we wish the young striker all the luck at his new home.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com