Sheffield United goalkeeper Michael Cooper remains an Everton target but the Toffees are willing to pay only £5m plus add-ons, according to Alan Nixon.
Sheffield United missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season and face a busy summer transfer window as a result. SUFC will be out to shape Ruben Selles’ squad to his liking, with notable departures inevitable.
Among the big Blades assets widely expected to leave are Gustavo Hamer and Anel Ahmedhodzic, while Vini Souza has now seen his move to VfL Wolfsburg confirmed.
SUFC - Sheffield United man Vini Souza
Image courtesy of: ANDREW BOYERS/REUTERS.
Among the other star performers last season was Michael Cooper, but there will be confidence about keeping him at Bramall Lane given he only joined from Plymouth Argyle last summer.
However, that doesn’t completely rule out interest, and it has already been reported that the Sheffield United goalkeeper has interest from Premier League side Everton.
Now, writing on his Patreon, reporter Alan Nixon says the Toffees remain keen, but a deal seems unlikely at this moment in time.
The Merseyside outfit are not giving up on the bid to tempt Cooper away from SUFC, but they are only willing to pay around £5m plus extras, it is said. Unsurprisingly, the Blades want significantly more, and the 25-year-old has no plans to move somewhere he will not be number one.
Sheffield United would laugh off £5m bid for Cooper
An Everton move for Cooper feels unlikely for two big reasons at the moment, and the main one is the fee quoted.
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Without hesitation, Sheffield United would no doubt laugh off a bid of just £5m plus add-ons for Cooper. Even if the add-ons were sizeable and took a deal closer to his valuation, you would fancy SUFC to demand far much more up front to give themselves a chance of landing a replacement of a similar standard.
SUFC - Sheffield United goalkeeper Michael Cooper
Image courtesy of: CRAIG BROUGH/REUTERS.
Cooper is one of the strongest goalkeepers outside the Premier League and has been touted as a future England international. With that in mind, along with the fact he signed just last summer, it will not be a cheap deal to prise him away from Bramall Lane.
Deserving of a starting role
In addition, Cooper is a goalkeeper who deserves to be number one. At Everton, such a role is unlikely due to the presence of Jordan Pickford.
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It is not out of the question that the Sheffield United ‘keeper could usurp him in time, but he is arguably good enough to start for another Premier League side. As such, Cooper is more likely to bide his time for an opportunity like that, rather than to move somewhere, serve as number two, and wait for the opportunity to impress.
If that chance isn’t going to arise, he will be more than comfortable retaining a key role with SUFC.