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The former Bradford City and Barnsley striker is preparing for the surprise European Switch

Former Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie is set to move to Spain’s Las Palmas, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 28-year-old left The Blades this summer after five seasons with the club, making just 150 appearances for United. He had a decent campaign for Chris Wilder’s side despite relegation from the Premier League, scoring six times and adding three assists in 21 games.

A journeyman in the EFL, the Scotland international has also played for Swansea City, Barnsley and Bradford City among others. He initially started life at Leeds United before moving to the Bantams where he made 20 appearances before being sold to Swansea for £250,000.

Football journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that McBurnie would move to Las Palmas this summer, with his medicals at the La Liga outfit scheduled for Friday. The Sheffield Star previously reported that the forward still turned up at The Blades’ pre-season training, sparking rumors he could remain at Bramall Lane despite being out of contract at the end of June.

United have already replaced the outgoing striker with Bournemouth’s Kieffer Moore following his spell at Ipswich Town, which secured his promotion to the top flight. Despite the Welshman’s arrival, a new bid has been submitted to keep him at the club.

Las Palmas avoided relegation last season, finishing 16th out of 20 teams. Los Amarillos have former Tranmere Rovers youth player Marvin Park and former Cardiff City loanee Sory Kaba in their ranks.

The writer’s vision

Transfer windows certainly offer all sorts of surprises, but Oli McBurnie’s move to Las Palmas will undoubtedly be one of the strangest moves this summer. How he ended up moving to the Canary Islands is a mystery after recently receiving a new offer to stay at Bramall Lane.

However, McBurnie is still a powerful forward and will certainly present a challenge to Spanish defenders who will not be used to the physicality of a player brought out of the EFL. He still delivered for Sheffield United in a dreadful season for them in the Premier League and the former Bristol Rovers loanee will be able to test that in a new country.

While some emerging British talents are making their way to Iberia, such as Birmingham City’s Jude Bellingham or Marcus Edwards, once on loan at Norwich City, it is strange to see players like the 28-year-old moving to a European league. It is in the same vein as former Bolton Wanderers defender Alan Hutton’s loan move to Mallorca in 2013.

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