Liverpool are still owed money for player sold three years ago as missed payment revealed

Liverpool are still owed a payment from Sheffield United as part of the £23.5 million sale of striker Rhian Brewster in 2020, according to a new report.

The Blades decided to splash a club-record fee on the England youth international as they looked to build on a successful first season back in the Premier League.

But Chris Wilder's side struggled throughout the campaign, finishing rock bottom of the division. Wilder left the club in March 2021, with Paul Heckingbottom completing the season as interim manager.

It wasn't an easy campaign for Brewster either. He made 27 appearances in the league for the Blades, failing to score a goal.

The club's owner, Prince Abdullah, claimed in an interview with Sky Sports (via Daily Mirror) in March 2021 that he wanted Brewster to sign on loan initially, with an option to buy if United stayed up, and slammed Wilder by alleging that the manager 'undermined' their position in speaking about Brewster publicly and refusing to consider other alternatives.

The former Liverpool striker has remained at Bramall Lane since the club's relegation to the Championship. He has one goal to his name in 17 appearances this term, and has been out for the last three months with a hamstring injury.

Sheffield United 'failed to make Brewster payment'

Sheffield United were placed under a transfer embargo last month after they breached rule 52.2.3, which reads, as per the official EFL website: "If a Club is in default of payments due to another Club (or club) under a transfer or compensation agreement the Club shall be subject to a registration embargo such that it shall not be permitted to register any Player with that Club without the prior written consent of The League until such time as the agreement is honoured."

The Times have reported that one of these failed payments was to Liverpool for Brewster, although the size of the payment is not known. The Liverpool Echo, meanwhile, also understand that a failed payment still owed to the Reds.

Nigerian businessman Dozy Mmobuosi is close to completing a £90 million takeover of the club, as per the same source.

Should that takeover go through, the businessman would be in control of a side currently in second place in the Championship table under Heckingbottom, who returned for a second spell in charge following the sacking of Slovisa Jokanovic in November 2021.

The Blades are currently second in the table, behind leaders Burnley, and have won eight of their last 10 games. They are 12 points ahead of third-placed Middlesbrough, with a game in hand.

Promotion back to the top flight would allow the club to complete the outstanding payment to Liverpool at the end of the season, although any takeover would likely mean that payment could be made earlier.