Malmo respond after Sheffield United ‘seal’ £2.8m Nils Zatterstrom transfer

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Ruben Selles wants signings at Sheffield United, and it appears that the Blades are belatedly providing in the shape of Malmo centre-back Nils Zatterstrom.

It is only a couple of weeks ago that a ‘gutted’ fanbase bid farewell to Anel Ahmedhodzic.

A towering presence in both boxes at Bramall Lane, the popular defender completed a £7 million move to Dutch giants Feyenoord at the beginning of August.

And in his place, funnily enough, comes another Malmo-born, 6ft-something Swedish colossus. Another who looks destined to make the 1,500 kilometre journey from Scania to the Steel City.

The similarities between Ahmedhodzic and the Sheffield United-bound Nils Zatterstrom are obvious, from their backgrounds, their beginnings, their size and their strengths.

And, after Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday evening that Sheffield United will sign Zatterstrom in a deal worth £2.8 million, the hope will be that a 20-year-old with one senior Sweden cap can immediately fill the boots of his predecessor at the heart of the Blades backline.

Malmo respond as Sheffield United close in on Nils Zatterstrom

Zatterstrom, like Ahmedhodzic, rose through the ranks to become a regular at Malmo. The youngster has already made 41 senior appearances, claiming the Allsvenskan title in 2024.

A good omen, perhaps, for a Sheffield United side with their sights also firmly fixed on league glory, despite a disastrous start to the Ruben Selles era.

Interestingly, while Malmo are yet to confirm Zatterstrom’s seemingly impending switch to England’s second tier, the defender was conspicuous by his absence during Tuesday’s outdoor training session.

There is currently no indication of any injury. So this, coming less than 24 hours after Fabrizio Romano reported that a deal had been reached with Sheffield United, does not feel like a mere coincidence.

“Nils Zatterstrom is here, but is training indoors,” Malmo’s press communicator Frida Ardemark told Expressen, while head coach Henrik Rydstrom dodged any questions after the session.

“[Zatterstrom’s absence from training] is a question for the sports management.”

It certainly feels unlikely that Zatterstrom will feature during Malmo’s Europa League play-off tie against Czech outfit Sigma Olomouc, considering he is not training with the rest of Rydstrom’s first-team squad just two days before kick-off.

Ruben Selles is demanding defensive transfers at Bramall Lane

Former Southampton, Hull City and Reading coach Ruben Selles has pulled no punches in recent weeks, expressing his disappointment surrounding the lack of reinforcements over the summer.

Zatterstrom’s likely arrival will ease the frustration somewhat.

“He’s [Selles] not happy with the squad. He wants defenders, definitely,” EFL Analysis’ chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey said before Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Swansea City made it three losses out of three.

Bailey confirmed that Sheffield United are interested in Atalanta’s Ben Godfrey too, alongside Bournemouth’s former Sunderland loanee Chris Mepham and Seol Young-woo of Red Star Belgrade.

“It would not surprise me at all to see someone like that come in,” he added. “They’ll get one or two in this window, mainly in defence and especially centrally.”