Sheffield United’s Jamaican international defender Claude Davis says he is eager to have his compatriot Luton Shelton join him at the club in the English Premier League.
Davis, who joined Sheffield United from Championship side Preston North End at the beginning of the season, was particularly delighted with the impending transfer, having personally recommended the player to his club’s manager, Neil Warnock.
“To be honest with you, it’s good, because the more Jamaicans we have over here, the better it is for the country and the football in the country … and Luton is a good player,” Davis told the Observer, as he reacted to news that the speedy striker had agreed terms to join Sheffield United, pending a medical and work permit. “I was the one who really recommended him to my gaffer (manager)… I recommended him and Ricardo Fuller ’cause he said he needed strikers,” the big defender revealed from his home in Sheffield, England, last evening.
Yesterday, Sheffield United reported on its website that it had agreed a deal with Shelton for a fee in the region of £2 million from Swedish first division club Helsingborgs.
According to Sheffield United’s website: “The international team-mate of Claude Davis has also agreed personal terms with United and formalities and appropriate clearance is expected to be completed later this week.
Arsenal’s Thierry Henry (centre) controls the ball between Sheffield United’s Claude Davis (left) and David Sommeil in this September 2006 EPL match at The Emirates Stadium in London, England. (Photo: AP)
“Shelton, just 21, is one of the targets watched by Neil Warnock on his European scouting mission in December and the Blades management staff has kept a close eye on his progress.”
Yesterday, Helsingborgs also confirmed that the tall, skillful Jamaican will be joining the English Premier League club for an undisclosed sum.
And a local daily Helsingborgs Dagblad reported that: “The Jamaican would join his new club on Tuesday or Wednesday.”
Shelton’s move to the EPL was negotiated by agent Phillip Graham, who had secured Shelton’s previous deal with Helsingborgs after the Reggae Boy was denied a work permit by the British Home Office to join English Championship side Burnley in 2005.
Meanwhile, Davis hinted that he could not wait for all the details to be ironed out to start playing with Shelton in the premiership.
“Luton is like family, so to speak, ’cause the more family you have around you the more comfortable you’ll be, and when you’re comfortable, you play your best football,” the former Portmore United captain reasoned.
Shelton, who scored nine times to help Helsingborgs finish fourth in the league last season, admitted that the experience gained in the Scandinavian country playing with veteran striker Henrik Larsson has made him into a better player.
“Playing with a striker that has played with the best team in the world (Barcelona), I learned a lot from him. He taught me a lot and made me feel more confident playing, giving me the confidence to play anywhere,” Shelton stated in an interview on HITZ 92 FM’s sports magazine programme Sports Grill yesterday.
The striker, who started his career with Wray & Nephew National Premier League campaigners Harbour View, actually scored 17 goals in 28 competitive matches for Helsingborgs. He also scored five times in helping the Swedish team win the Cup knockout and advance to the UEFA Cup play-offs.