Swans accept bid for top striker Oli
SWANSEA City have accepted a bid from Sheffield United for striker Oli McBurnie. The Blades have been huge admirers of the Scotland international for some time and had a bid of £15m rejected by the Swans earlier this month.
But earlier this week they lodged an improved bid of around £18m, which could rise to £20m when add-ons are included.
Swansea were loath to lose the 23-year-old, who netted 24 goals in all competitions last term to finish as the club’s top scorer.
But the sum offered by Chris Wilder’s side proved too good to refuse and will solve the club’s financial problems following last year’s relegation from the Premier League.
It’s understood McBurnie travelled to South Yorkshire yesterday to thrash out the final details of the deal.
Swansea are hopeful of finding a
replacement for the Scot, while former record signing Borja Baston appears increasingly likely to remain in South Wales for Steve Cooper’s debut campaign at the Liberty Stadium.
They are closing in on their third signing under Cooper after agreeing a fee with Heracles for winger Kristoffer Peterson.
The Swans have already added Jake Bidwell and Ben Wilmot to their ranks this summer, and former Liverpool man Peterson is now poised to move to South Wales after the Swans agreed a fee in the region of £500,000 with the Dutch outfit for his services.
He was due to arrive in Swansea yesterday and could complete his move ahead of the Championship opener with Hull City on Saturday.
The versatile winger, who has also operated as a striker, worked under Cooper during the Swansea manager’s time in Liverpool’s youth system.
However, after a loan spell with Tranmere Rovers, the Sweden international left Anfield having failed to make a competitive firstteam appearance for the Reds.
He spent three seasons with Utrecht before joining Heracles in 2017 following a loan stint with Roda JC.
The Swans have been eager to add to their attacking options following Daniel James’s move to Manchester United.
And Peterson’s goal return from the 2018-19 campaign makes for impressive reading, with the 24-year-old scoring 12 times in 33 appearances.
After netting eight goals in Heracles’s opening seven Eredivisie matches last term, Peterson made his first appearance for Sweden in a 1-1 draw with Slovakia.