Two major Vini Souza faults raised as Sheffield United agree £13m Wolfsburg switch | OneFootball

FLW’s Sheffield United fan pundit has commented on Vini Souza’s impending move to Wolfsburg.

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sheffield United will be hoping to shake off their play-off final heartache under new boss Ruben Selles.

The Blades recently parted ways with Chris Wilder for a second time after losing at Wembley to Sunderland for a place in the Premier League, with the former Reading and Hull City coach taking on arguably the biggest job of his career.

Expectations will be high as the club looks to bounce back to the top-flight at the second attempt, with plenty of teams showing in the past that it is possible after an original setback.

With the change of regime, many players are expected to arrive and depart in order for Selles to stamp his authority on the playing squad, and one outgoing looks set to be Vini Souza.

The Yorkshire club have reportedly agreed a £13m fee with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg for the transfer, making a slight profit on the £10m they paid for him two years ago.

With this news in mind, FLW’s Sheffield United fan pundit has issued his thoughts over Souza’s impending exit.

Inconsistency and unavailability two key reasons for low Vini Souza selling price

Speaking to Football League World, Sheffield United fan pundit Jimmy (aka Blades Ramble) has expressed his disappointment at not getting more money for Vini Souza, but admits inconsistent performances and periods of unavailability have led to the low fee.

Jimmy said: “We would obviously have liked more for Vini because the player he can be is worth more than £13 million.

“We never truly got to see him at his absolute best, certainly not on a consistent basis. He was very poor in the Premier League and if we had been offered our money back at that stage, a lot of us would have snapped their hand off, so there would have been no debate about it then.

"He’s come down with us to the Championship and had a good season. There's no other way of looking at it, he's a very good player at this level, but it’s not just the lack of consistency at times with Vini, it's the availability, and I think he's only been available for three-quarters of the season, which isn't terrible, but when he's one of the big hitters in your squad, he is noticeably missed when he's not he's not playing, he’s a main actor as Chris Wilder would say.

“You need him to be consistently fit, and you need him to be firing on all cylinders, and I think it’s fair. I think that's why we haven't achieved a higher price for him. He’s not proven at the top level.

"I think Germany is a very good move for him. He will be playing against really strong teams in the Bundesliga. He wants Brazilian national team recognition, and he's giving himself a chance because he wouldn't get that opportunity still staying at Sheffield United, so I think it's a decent deal, all things considered.”

Losing Vini Souza is a blow to Sheffield United and Ruben Selles

Vini Souza was an integral part of the side last season, proving himself to be a noticeable presence in midfield at Championship level.

His defensive solidity and physicality were two massively important qualities, and it will be disappointing for the club that they haven’t been able to earn more for a player of his talent.

Hamstring injuries hampered his last term slightly, with the club stumbling against the likes of Middlesbrough and Sunderland in his absence.

Sheffield United will have a returning Ollie Arblaster, as well as Sydie Peck, to choose from next season, but you feel reinvestment will be key in that area so the midfield department is well-stocked enough for a relentless 46-game season.