Burnley backed to sign ex-Sheffield United man - "It’s a slam dunk signing" | OneFootball

Burnley have been urged to sign former Sheffield United defender Anel Ahmedhodzic from Feyenoord.

Just how strong Burnley are set to be for the 2026-27 Championship season is still up in the air, but a potentially pivotal signing at the back is something they have been urged to make – bringing in former Sheffield United centre-back Anel Ahmedhodzic.

Over the summer, Burnley supporters have been left a bit frustrated by the running of the club of owner Espanyol, not helped by the protracted search for a new manager.

They eventually landed on former Nicky Hayen, who was previously in charge of Genk in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League – and patience will be required from Clarets fans.

That patience has been tested by some fairly indifferent performances to kick off their campaign, requiring penalties to knock League One side Notts County out of the first round of the EFL Cup before being seemingly set for a comfortable loss at home to fellow just-relegated West Ham United in Lancashire.

A late Zian Flemming brace, though, salvaged a point for Burnley in their Championship opener and a mood of optimism is one that Burnley must ride out.

While patience will be required by Hayen as he gets to grips with the league, Burnley mustn’t shirk the need for proven performers at the level – and they are being urged to sign Ahmedhodzic, someone who has been there and done it in the Championship.

Burnley urged to seal Anel Ahmedhodzic deal after Sheffield United exploits

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Burnley boast a strong side, and they will again be expected to challenge for promotion in the Championship this season, but there are perhaps still some key areas to improve upon.

One of those comes in the heart of the defence and links to Ahmedhodzic make a lot of sense – and they are also links that excite FLW’s Burnley Fan Pundit Aaron Wright.

Aaron told FLW: “Do it and do it now.

“£4 million, I think it is - it is the most slam-dunk signing I think we could make.

“He was superb at Sheffield United. I remember him scoring in that 5-2 loss that we had under (Vincent) Kompany. He was superb defensively and I think he scored off a corner.

“That whole season, he was standout top three centre-backs in the league, and you could probably make a solid argument that we had the other two that season.

“It’s is a slam dunk signing. £4 million. There are rumours of (Hjalmar) Ekdal leaving for a similar fee. Bring him in – there’s no question to it; it is just a ‘do it’.

“It solves a problem. We have been looking at options as it looks like Mark McKenzie is off to the MLS from Toulouse.

“Spend £4 million on Ahmedhodzic. Him and (Max) Alleyne as a centre-back partnership sounds like a pairing that wins promotion in my mind.

“Alleyne had a good year last year and looked very good on Sunday. Ahmedhodzic is as proven as you can get in this league – just do it.”

Anel Ahmedhodzic would be a proven force for Burnley

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In the season that Aaron was referring to when Burnley were under the management of Vincent Kompany, the Lancastrians amassed 101 points and won the league with ease.

They scored 87 goals and conceded just 35 on their way to returning to the Premier League with the best attack and the best defence with a star-studded squad for the level.

One player that perhaps stood out more than the individual talents of the champions, though, was Sheffield United centre-back Anel Ahmedhodzic.

The former Bosnia and Herzegovina international defender, who has also earned himself a cap for Sweden, was the pillar to which The Blades’ own automatic promotion back to the top-flight was built on.

He then impressed in a poor United side in the Premier League before again being instrumental to their run to the play-off final in the 2024-25 campaign.

His quality is and stock was such that Dutch giants Feyenoord opted to make a big money move for him, with Ahmedhodzic moving to Rotterdam for a fee believed to be in the region of £7 million.

Feyenoord have since qualified for the UEFA Champions League with Ahmedhodzic making 25 Eredivisie appearances and so what Burnley would be getting is a 27-year-old centre-back with promotion-winning EFL experience and someone who could be a dominant force in the division for almost half the price he was sold for just 12 months ago.