Transfer mystery as ‘Sheffield’ thrown into January battle for potentially cheap defender deal

On Monday, TuttoMercatoWeb reported that Leeds United and ‘Sheffield’ were interested in signing Genoa right-back Aleandro Rosi.

Considering there is no such team, as this could mean either Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, the Italian website aren’t being very helpful.

At first glance, logic would suggest it’s probably the Blades.

Sheffield United have been playing in a 3-5-2 formation the entire season and considering Rosi has featured on the right of midfield in the Serie A side’s 3-1-4-2/3-5-2, it would make perfect sense for Chris Wilder to be interested in a player experienced in the role.

Furthermore, the fact Chris Basham, a defensive midfielder/centre-back has been used down the wing recently suggests the English manager isn’t entirely pleased with his other options there in Kieron Freeman and George Baldock.

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However, looking at the situation over at Hillsborough, regular right-back Jack Hunt was recently dropped following a poor display against Ipswich, and Liam Palmer is hardly proving to be an adequate replacement as the Owls are yet to pick up a win since he started featuring on a weekly basis.

Therefore, with Rosi’s contract running out in 2018, it would make sense if both Sheffield sides were taking an interest in what could be a cheap deal in January if he doesn’t renew with Genoa.

According to a previous report in Italy, talks are still ongoing for new deal, but the Serie A side’s refusal to give him the three years he wants is proving to be a stumbling block.

It’s a mystery we’d quite like to solve, for everyone’s sake, and we’re hoping more information comes out in the next week or so.