Football Transfer Expert Links Sheffield United With 23-year-old Frenchman Who Has 12 Months Left on Deal | OneFootball

Sheffield United have reportedly emerged as serious contenders in the race to sign Le Havre centre-back Etienne Youte Kinkoue, with Burnley and FC Koln also reportedly in pursuit.

Le Havre are setting the price at around £4.3 million for the 23‑year‑old centre‑back, according to Fabrizio Romano which is a significant drop from last summer’s valuation of approximately £7 million, when both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest were linked.

Arriving from Olympiacos in January 2023, Kinkoue has quickly become integral to Le Havre’s team. He’s since amassed 50 Ligue 1 appearances in two seasons, helping the club secure survival in France’s top flight. His current contract runs until 2026, but with summer interest and with his valuation having nearly halved in 12 months, Le Havre appear keen to cash in on the Frenchman.

Stats Don’t Look Good At First Glance For Sheffield United Linked Defender

Looking at his stats from the 2024/25 Ligue 1 campaign, on paper they don’t look good; he ranks in the bottom percentile for tackles attempted and tackles won per 90. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because it could mean that Kinkoue’s positioning is excellent so he never really has to put a foot in, or perhaps he takes a more cautious approach where he chooses to jockey and hold up attackers when they’re bearing down on him.

One thing that is a cause for concern however is his aerial stats. Kinkoue averages just over one aerial duel won per 90, ranking him in the 11th percentile, and his aerial duel success rate is only 55.3% (21st percentile). This doesn’t fill me with confidence. To put this into perspective, Jack Robinson, who was regularly labelled as United’s weakest centre-back by the supporters last term, his 2024/25 stats were: 3.20 aerial duels won per 90, and a success rate of over 60%.

On the ball, the 23-year-old has a short pass success rate of 94% (70th percentile), a medium pass success rate of 96% (83rd percentile), and a long pass success rate of 60% (54th percentile).

Here is his player radar graph provided by Opta below.

Enough of the Nonsense Links And Sign Ashley Phillips!

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – APRIL 25: Ashley Phillips (L) and Viktor Johansson of Stoke City look dejected after conceding their side’s first goal which was scored by Sam McCallum of Sheffield United during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City FC and Sheffield United FC at Bet365 Stadium on April 25, 2025 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Personally, I have doubts whether these links are genuine; it is most likely agents trying to flog a player that’s in the final 12 months of his contract. Even if it is true, for just over £4 million, I don’t believe it’s a move worth doing when you consider someone with a few years of Championship football experience in them, Ashley Phillips is available for £6 million. And he’s still only 19 years of age.

Stats taken from FBref.