Sheffield United, Marseille agree deal for Iliman Ndiaye?

There has been plenty of speculation surrounding the 23-year-old's future this summer, following on from a Championship campaign which saw the Blades make a return to the Premier League.

Paul Heckingbottom's men finished second in the Championship - behind Vincent Kompany's Burnley - to clinch automatic promotion back to the top flight of English football after a two-season absence.

The Senegal international formed a productive partnership with Oli McBurnie at the top of the United team, and the former Boreham Wood man scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists in 46 second-tier appearances in 2022-23.

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Sheffield United will not be able to utilise Ndiaye's talents back in the Premier League, as a deal with Marseille has been agreed for the attacker.

It is understood that the seven-time international will put pen to paper on a five-year deal at the Ligue 1 club, with Marcelino Garcia viewing the player as someone who could spearhead their attack for a long time to come.

The report also adds that Ndiaye travelled to France on Sunday evening ahead of his medical, and should all be well, the forward will finalise his contract before being announced officially.

After managing secure to a second-placed finish in Ligue 1 in 2021-22 to seal a coveted place in the Champions League, Marseille dropped to third last season, meaning they will have to fight through the qualifying rounds in Europe to reach the group stage this time around.

A separate report from Yorkshire Mail claims that Sheffield United were very confident that Nidiaye would eventually agree to fresh terms at Bramall Lane, with the Senegalese star having less than a year left on his current deal.

The announcement of the player's contract extension was so close to being made last Wednesday that the media following the Blades during their pre-season camp in Portugal had been briefed ahead of the news being made public.

It is also believed that Ndiaye had filmed content with United's social media team in between training sessions in Southern Europe, and that the club's CEO Stephen Bettis had conducted an interview celebrating the extension of the attacker's stay in Yorkshire.

All supposedly looked set for the 23-year-old to take the no.10 jersey following the departure of club legend Billy Sharp this summer, however there was a last-minute change of heart from the player.

The report claims that suggestions of United pocketing between £13m-£14.5m for Nidaye are incorrect, and in fact the Premier League newcomers will earn north of that price range.

Heckingbottom must now prepare his Blades squad for life without one of their key figures over the past few years, with their top-flight opener coming at Bramall Lane against Crystal Palace on August 12.