Sheffield United have failed to make a recent payment to Liverpool after signing Rhian Brewster in October 2020.
The striker joined the Blades in a £23.5m move two-and-a-half years ago, with the Reds negotiating a 15% sell-on clause and a guaranteed buy-back option, which would be valid for three years.
However, the 22-year-old failed to score in his first season at Bramall Lane as Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League. And while he would break his duck for the Blades in the Championship, his record for the club currently stands at five goals from 63 appearances in all competitions.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp's strongest Liverpool line-up as Darwin Nunez and Fabinho decisions made
READ MORE: Liverpool set to axe two players from squad as Luis Diaz 'update' expected
Currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, Brewster hasn’t played since October after undergoing surgery. However, Sheffield United are well-placed to win promotion back to the Premier League despite his absence, with the Blades currently sitting second in the table, five points off league-leaders Burnley and 12 points clear in the automatic promotion places.
But despite the club’s success on the pitch, all is not well off it as they struggle financially and were placed under a transfer embargo by the EFL last month. The move relates to a breach of rule 52.2.3, which concerns the default of payments to another club, and means they cannot register a player "without the written prior consent of the league" until the overdue payment is made.
The Times previously reported that Liverpool were one such club, with the ECHO understanding that Sheffield United have indeed failed to make a recent payment to the Reds. It is unclear how much the Blades owe the Reds, but the default payment contributed to them being placed under embargo.
Amid their financial woes, Sheffield United had been trying to raise funds before the transfer window closed, with Sander Berge tipped for a £20m move to the Premier League. However, such a switch failed to materialise.
The same Times report claims that an African billionaire is close to completing a £90million takeover of the club. Should that go through, the Blades should be in a position to pay the default payment to Liverpool and come out of transfer embargo in the process.
Meanwhile, ECHO sister-site Yorkshire Live report that Sheffield United have a plan in place to have the sanction lifted, and although there are no plans to comment at this stage, the Blades will confirm once it has exited the embargo.
READ NEXT
Liverpool could drop four major hints that huge summer transfer window is coming
'Liverpool will be the most difficult' - Gary Neville makes fearful admission
Danny Murphy names two midfielders Liverpool should 'go hard' to sign
Why Liverpool can't sign Isco or any other free agent after transfer deadline day
Wesley Sneijder explains why Cody Gakpo needs 'more time' at Liverpool
