It has been a big summer of change at Sheffield United, and the club could be set to lose one of their star players in the form of midfielder Vini Souza.
Sheffield United looked to be in pole position to achieve automatic promotion last season, but a decline in form towards the end of the campaign saw them finish in third place, and they suffered further heartbreak as they were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland in the play-off final.
Just a few weeks after their Wembley defeat, the Blades parted company with manager Chris Wilder by mutual consent, and disagreements between the 57-year-old and the club’s hierarchy over the new data-driven recruitment model were believed to be one of the factors behind his departure.
Wilder has been replaced at Bramall Lane by Ruben Selles, who kept Hull City in the Championship last season before being surprisingly dismissed from his role at the MKM Stadium in May, and the Spaniard could be set for a major blow amid talk that Souza is on his way out.
Vini Souza set to leave Sheffield United for Wolfsburg
Souza joined Sheffield United from Belgian side Lommel in the summer of 2023 for a fee of £10 million, and it is fair to say that he struggled to win over supporters during his first year in South Yorkshire as his side were relegated from the Premier League with a dismal total of just 16 points.
Despite his inconsistent performances in the top flight, Souza was reportedly the subject of interest from the likes of Fulham and AC Milan last summer, but he remained at Bramall Lane, and he found a new lease of life in the Championship.
Souza was a near-guaranteed starter for United last season when fit, and he also wore the captain’s armband on a number of occasions, but his time at the club now appears to be coming to an end.
| Vini Souza’s stats for Sheffield United last season (as per Transfermarkt) | |
| Appearances | 38 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 2 |
It has been claimed that the Blades have agreed a €15 million (£12.8 million) fee with German side Wolfsburg for Souza, and with his medical expected to take place this week, it seems his switch to the Volkswagen Arena could be completed imminently.
As Souza closes in on a move away from United, we looked at how much money the club will save on wages once he departs.
