Why Sheffield United must go all out for Loris Benito in January
According to Daily Mail, Sheffield United are interested in signing Bordeaux defender Loris Benito to strengthen their defensive options.
Benito, 27, came through the ranks of FC Aarau’s youth system in his home town. His move from Benfica to BSC Young Boys in 2015 saw him grow into a complete player and he shifted to France with Bordeaux last summer.
Having featured in 16 games, Benito has been a consistent member of Paulo Sousa’s squad this season. He also has one goal to his name and is continuing to establish himself in the French top-flight with a string of impressive displays.
Meanwhile, Sheffield United have been a surprise package in their first stint since getting promoted to Premier League. They are currently 8th in the league standings and despite losing to Liverpool recently, they have outperformed many of the top-flight teams so far.
With the January transfer window right on spot, reinforcements to the squad would see them put in a powerful performance for the rest of the season. The Blades have dynamically improved in the midfield and the attack, with John Lundstram taking the centre stage.
David McGoldrick, Oliver McBurnie and Lys Mousset have brilliantly led the team in their attack and have been a threat to other defenders in the league. At the same time, left-back Enda Stevens has contributed immensely to the team without any proper backup in his position.
Going into the tougher phase of the season, it may turn out to become a stumbling block for Wilder, who has only one established left-back at his disposal. Therefore, the manager has to bring in reinforcements to add depth and quality to his squad.
In that case, Loris Benito would be a terrific addition to Wilder’s team and he can be the perfect backup for Stevens.
Benito has been consistent in the past few years wherever he has played and has proved to be decent for Bordeaux this season despite the team sitting 16th in the Ligue 1 standings. He also scored the winner against Dijon FC back in August, which shows his ability to join the team’s attack.
A left-back by trade, the Swiss international can perform equally well on both sides of the central defence. He has also been deployed as a left-sided midfielder by Sousa this season, thus making him a versatile player. This quality can immensely benefit Wilder and his team if a deal goes through.
The 27-year-old is considered to be a rough tackler of the ball and is also a threat from set-pieces. His passing has also been highly-appreciable as he has enjoyed 84% pass accuracy, according to Whoscored, along with 1.9 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 1.9 clearances per game this season.
He would surely be a surplus addition to the Blades squad. He would not only be a better backup but can also offer some healthy competition for the spot.
Read more
- Why Eberechi Eze would be a good coup by Sheffield United
- Why a new deal for John Lundstram is a right move by Sheffield United
- Why Sheffield United should go all out for Ollie Watkins in January
Verdict
At 27, this might be the right time for him to make a huge stride in his career by playing in the toughest league and if Wilder provides him with the right amount of opportunities, Benito would be excellent for them.
Therefore, Sheffield United must beat Watford to his signature as they are also keen on him, according to the Daily Mail.