Bundesliga move readied for Souza | OneFootball

It’s news that many Blades would have feared. It’s news that felt very possible when promotion wasn’t achieved. The departure of Vinicius Souza.

According to Vene Casagrande, who broke the news of Souza’s transfer to Bramall Lane, the Blades’ midfielder is set for a move to VFL Wolfsburg.

Casagrande’s tweet reveals Wolfsburg will pay around £13 million to take Souza from Sheffield to Wolfsburg.

The Blades midfielder will travel between Monday and Tuesday to join the German outfit.

Why is Souza headed to Germany?

After his first season at the Lane, many Blades may have been happy to see Souza head to Germany. As another of the 2023-2024 squad sold in order to forget the dark days of that season.

However, this season, Souza has looked a different player. This season has seen his redemption at Bramall Lane. He is now firmly on the do not sell list which makes the recent news so painful.

It felt like this season Souza had understood the assignment. He understood the Blades and what was needed from a player of his caliber. There was untapped potential in Vini and the Championship brought it out.

For all the deserved plaudits given to Peck, the reliable stand-ins of Davies and Choudhury, it was simple. The Blades midfielder ticked better with Souza in it and was much harder to get through.

Big Game Performances

(Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

The November Steel City Derby was the first sign of how far Souza had come. He captained the Blades through the nervy stages of a 1-0 lead. His accurate passing (81%) and ground duels won (67%) helped the Blades stay calm. His presence in front of the backline and the wall that he and Souttar created was a huge reason for many of last season’s clean sheets. Of course, whilst acknowledging the keeper himself.

Again against Leeds at Bramall Lane, another massive game for the Blades, Souza stepped up. He made himself a nuisance for the Leeds players as the most fouled player on the pitch. But also gave as good as he got. Fairly winning the most duels (10) of anyone on the pitch that night. Undoubtedly, individual displays like that will have left his name on many a scout’s report.

Ultimately, Vinicius Souza has shown his ability to step up in high pressure games this season. A couple of years older and more experienced from when he signed for the Blades. Both reasons will have made him an option for a side like Wolfsburg.

Where does the move leave the Blades?

Well, as always no player is bigger than the club, things will move on. Although, of all the players Souza is one you’d least like to lose. The Blades had the troublesome spell over last winter without him. Only managing by using Tom Davies and Sydie Peck as defensive midfield electrician’s tape to paper over the cracks.

Whilst both managed excellently they are arguably the two current starting holding midfielders for the Blades. Depth option turned right-back Hamza Choudhury has returned to Leicester City. Whilst, Oliver Arblaster who with Peck could be a different but ready made replacement for Souza still has uncertainty on his return date.

As a result if the move to Wolfsburg comes to pass for Souza, the Blades will need to sign at least one new defensive midfielder as a priority. Ideally, for sufficient depth two should be seriously considered.

Takeaways

It will be a shame to see Vinicius Souza leave. The midfielder has really captured hearts at Bramall Lane this season. He has really turned around how some of his critics viewed him in the Premier League season.

As such it’s natural to want him to stay with the Blades another year. But equally Wolfsburg are a Bundesliga club and a major one at that. Therefore, it’s hard to really begrudge him personally for wanting the move.

Even if the reported price does seem on the cheap side.