Sheffield United have completed the big-money signing of Rhian Brewster from Liverpool in a move they hope will improve their fortunes in front of goal.
Brewster, 20, has joined the Blades in a club-record deal worth around £23.5million on a five-year contract.
His arrival comes after Sheffield United recorded a magnificent ninth-place finish in the Premier League last season in their first year after promotion.
Despite a stunning campaign, Chris Wilder's men were not strong in front of goal, a point he acknowledged prior to Sunday's match away at Arsenal.
"We are always trying to bring better players in," he said. "Looking at what we did last year with chances created, it is an area of the pitch we need to be more clinical and need to bring competition in."
. @RhianBrewster9 has completed a deal to join @SheffieldUnited on a permanent transfer.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 2, 2020
Everybody at #LFC would like to wish Rhian all the very best for his future career
SHEFFIELD STRUGGLES
Indeed, only four teams scored fewer than Sheffield United's 39 Premier League goals last season – Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Watford and Norwich City, with even relegated Bournemouth netting more.
Most notably, Opta data shows the 258 shots from the Blades was the lowest total of any team in the top flight.
None of their players scored more than six league goals, totals which were reached by Lys Mousset and Oliver McBurnie.
Only Crystal Palace, Watford and Brighton and Hove Albion had a lower shooting accuracy percentage than Sheffield United’s 44.19, while going into the Arsenal game, they have also lost all three of their top-flight games to start 2020-21, failing to score in any of them.
There is clearly a problem which they hope Brewster can solve.
BREWSTER COMES IN
Brewster has long been touted as a player with huge potential and Sheffield United will be hoping he has an instant impact.
He scored 11 goals in 22 league games in an impressive spell on loan at Championship side Swansea City in the second half of last season and has previously thrived in England's youth teams.
Brewster, though, is yet to feature in the Premier League and has just four appearances to his name for the Reds in domestic cup competitions.
That means his early outings at the highest level will be closely watched and not just by Sheffield United fans desperate for him to provide a cutting edge, but also by Liverpool fans after the club reportedly retained a buyback clause that is valid for three years.
