Football
Exclusive: Sheffield United Hold Talks as Southampton and Wrexham Join Ben Mee Chase
Former Burnley skipper Ben Mee is being sought after by Championship clubs Southampton, Sheffield United, and Wrexham after being released by Brentford. The experienced defender is known for his tough tackling and vast Premier League experience. He is open to continuing his career in the Championship and has aspirations of becoming a coach in the future.
Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday - Carabao Cup Fourth Round by Alex Pantling | Getty Images
A trio of Championship clubs are clamouring to secure Ben Mee’s signature, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Southampton, Sheffield United and Wrexham have all expressed an interesting in signing the former Burnley captain, now a free agent after his release by Brentford this summer. Fans looking to back their favourite club in the transfer market can take advantage of the best betting sign up offers available right now a perfect way to add a bit of excitement while following Mee’s next move.
Mee joined the Bees on a two-year deal in July 2022 and the two parties agree a one-year extension last summer.
But the West London club decided not to offer the experienced 35-year-old centre-back a new contract and clubs have been courting his services even since.
The Blades are understood to have already held provisional conversations with the player about a potential move, and he has reportedly been training with Ruben Selles' squad this week.
Having enjoyed a decade of playing in the Premier League, it’s perhaps little surprise that second tier clubs are chasing Mee, especially given his vast experience.
TOUGH TACKLING
A tough tackling defender, Mee spent 11 seasons at Turf Moor and played in the triumphant Clarets side which famously won promotion to the Premier League under then manager Sean Dyche in 2016.
In all he played 376 games for the club, with 217 of them having been in top flight.
The defender then went on to play 60 games for the Bees in the Premier League before his release.
And at 35 our sources understand Mee is happy to prolong his career in the Championship.
He played four seasons for the Clarets in the second tier and believes he still has plenty to offer a team looking to win promotion.
Mee is also understood to have aspirations of one day taking up a coaching role, having worked as an assistant boss with the Clarets for a short period towards the back end of his career with the club.
He started his career with Manchester City and won the FA Youth Cup before establishing himself as a respected centre-back in the Premier League.
Editor's Insight
A tough defender can change the game and a big tackler like Mee can get inside the other team's heads. This offers a delicate nuance to traders who recognise a trait like this and similarly can provide value to bettors, especially when attempting land a difficult multi-leg accumulator. When attackers know they're up against a defender who isn't afraid to make a big hit, it can really mess with their confidence and make them question their decisions, especially in lower leagues where being physical is a big deal.
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Having written for national newspapers and respected publications for 25 years, Neil brings a wealth of experience as both a writer and journalist. In the past three years, he has done freelance work for BBC Sport.