Sheffield United: £6m price-tag emerges for top Chris Wilder transfer target | OneFootball

The price that Sheffield United would have to pay to sign former loanee Ben Brereton Diaz permanently this summer has been revealed by a Spanish publication.

It appears that the summer moves made by the Blades will have more of a focus on outgoings than incomings. Many first-teamers have already been released by the club, including Max Lowe, who looks set to join their local rivals Sheffield Wednesday, and more are set to be available to go too.

Until the proposed takeover happens at Bramall Lane, getting rid of unwanted players, or selling their better players for decent fees, is going to be their best way to get money that they can then spend on rebuilding the squad.

It's expected that a majority of the club's signings in the upcoming window will come from the free agent and loan market, as opposed to splashing out on permanent deals which require transfer fees.

The budget that Chris Wilder will have to work with isn't a huge one, as things stand, but one player that may be worth the risk of spending some cash on is Brereton Diaz.

The Chile international returned to England, to try and help the Blades in their ultimately unsuccessful attempt to stay in the top flight.

He was a decent contributor for them in his short-term temporary spell in Yorkshire, and his parent club may be willing to sell for a certain price, according to reports.

Ben Brereton Diaz asking price emerges as Sheffield United consider transfer move

The former Blackburn Rovers forward could be available for as little as £6 million this summer, if United want to launch a permanent move for him, according to Spanish newspaper El Periódico Mediterráneo - via the Sheffield Star.

Brereton Diaz's parent club, Villarreal, who he joined on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers last summer, are said to be considering letting him go. He had a poor start to life in Spain, leading to his eventual loan move to Bramall Lane, and they may look to cut their losses with him.

El Periódico reports that a fee of €7-10 million (£6 million-8.5 million) could be enough for them to let the 25-year-old go, as per the Sheffield Star.

Blades boss Wilder kept his cards close to his chest about whether a move would be launched for the Chilean in the summer, but praised him for what he did during his temporary stay with United.

"We talk about leaders and what we need to do in the summer, and Ben’s done himself no harm," Wilder said. "It’s been a really good loan, with assists and goals and for me he’s been a dream to work with.

"He’s great in the changing room and has fitted in fabulously. We didn’t expect anything different and we’re delighted we got him. We’ll see where we go from here."

Ben Brereton Diaz would be a quality signing for the Sheffield United

Because of the current financial state, and the potential takeover of the club looming, United may have to try and drag this one deep into the window so that they have enough money to be able to afford a player like Brereton Diaz, but it would be worth it.

They are lucky that he joined the Spanish side on a free deal and, as such, are willing to take a relatively minimal fee for someone of his quality.

His final two seasons in Lancashire, with Rovers, saw him net 36 times. He is a more than proven goalscorer in the second tier, and he would be a real boost to the club's hopes for next season.

Added to that, Cameron Archer is set to return to Aston Villa as part of an obligation following United's relegation to the Championship, and the futures of Daniel Jebbison and Oli McBurnie are unclear, meaning strengthening is needed up-front - and you won't get many more proven Championship marksmen available for the kind of price reported like Brereton Diaz.