Data reveals Sheffield United's perfect Vini Souza replacement is waiting at Hull City | OneFootball

The United board recently confirmed they will be taking a data-driven approach to their transfer business

The Sheffield United board have recently confirmed that the club will be adopting a data-driven approach to their transfer business this summer.

In the coming weeks and months, Chris Wilder will be preparing his side for yet another crack at promotion from the Championship after falling agonisingly short on two counts in the final weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, firstly behind Leeds United and Burnley in the automatic promotion race, before surrendering a 1-0 advantage to Sunderland in the play-off final last Saturday, with the Blades now set for a huge rebuilding job.

Plenty of star names are bound to attract interest after impressing the masses at Bramall Lane and beyond, with Brazilian midfielder Vini Souza among a cluster of players who redeemed themselves massively for their performances this term after an extremely underwhelming first season in English football after a £10m move from Lommel SK.

And in a fresh revelation from Spanish news outlet, AS, it has been claimed that the 25-year-old has caught the attention of clubs in the Premier League and La Liga, where he has also previously featured, making 34 appearances for Espanyol during the 2022/23 season.

With COH Sports' approach to the upcoming transfer window hinging on the use of "data and analytics", FLW has looked at the player said to be the most similar to Souza at present, and Wilder doesn't exactly have to look too far based on the outcome.

The man in question is Hull City's own combative and technical midfielder, Steven Alzate, who joined the Tigers on an initial two-year deal as a free agent in September after previously plying his trade for Brighton and Hove Albion.

Fbref - a site which compiles in-depth analysis and comparisons - showcase that the Colombian's performances and output for Hull, during an inconsistent season which almost ended in relegation to League One, have been of a similar ilk to Souza, although the Blades' end goal was very different.

Both players accumulated just one assist each during the season, although Alzate made four less appearances and 11 fewer starts than Souza, with the duo both in a similar range when it comes to pass completion percentages, although the Brazilian ranked far better when it came to the progressiveness of those from a deep-lying position.

Alzate would produce less tackles in the middle of the park, but had a stronger success rate in comparison to the United man, and would complete a greater number of successful take-ons, whilst Souza developed a greater knack of the two when it came to playing and carrying the ball into advanced areas.

This, once more, proves why there is very little to split the duo, even with the Hull man making a lesser number of appearances, as well as why the fellow 25-year-old has also been identified as a target for Valencia and Getafe.

Steven Alzate has previously been linked with Sheffield United

There's no disputing that, on his day, Alzate has the ability to be one of the division's most-gifted midfield players, despite blowing hot and cold on occasions under Tim Walter and Ruben Selles, although he wouldn't start for City until mid-December after fitness issues.

Even prior to discussing the similarities between the seven-time international and Souza, he is clearly someone who Wilder admires after being linked with a move to the Steel City last June. At the same time, Turkish Süper Lig side, Trabzonspor, presented a contract offer to the former Standard Liege loanee after his exit from the AMEX Stadium.

Amid the aforementioned links to the Spanish top-flight duo, it was also reported that Alzate is a target for clubs in England.

Therefore, it wouldn't be a surprise if United emerged as one of those in the coming weeks, although a move across Yorkshire would no doubt frustrate those at the MKM Stadium as Hull undergo their own rebuilding job under a new manager, regardless of the profit which would be made.