“I’ve been all over the world watching you” exclaimed one member of Chris Wilder’s staff on Sander Berge’s first day at Sheffield United.

The Norwegian was putting pen to paper on his club-record deal to sign for United in the final week of the January window, being greeted with gleeful smiles by a host of players and staff at the Blades’ training ground.

There was a sense of excitement but no smile or joke was bigger than their assistant manager’s.

Alan Knill was in one of the rooms and he shared a quick conversation with Berge, exclaiming that he was one of the people who had watched the 21-year-old on a regular basis.

“Barcelona was lovely,” he chirped to Wilder and their new signing, but despite this being nothing more than a joke, there is a more serious message to this discussion that took place last week.

Sheffield United were detailed in their approach to sign Berge and their meticulous nature when it came to scouting the player was evident.

Wilder even watched him in action for Norway against Sweden all the way back in September. This wasn’t a player they only just turned attentions to in the New Year. Instead, they tracked him for a considerable period and are now already reaping the rewards.

The Blades boss would have been impressed by what he saw during that clash over four months ago. Per SofaScore, Berge made three interceptions, won four aerial duels and was also successful with two dribbles.

Where is he from?! Can you name which obscure countries these famous players have represented?

The midfielder was in imperious form, just as he was on his Sheffield United debut – winning a colossal six tackles against Crystal Palace.

But what they saw during the youngster’s first appearance for the club will have been nothing new. Knill and Wilder knew what they were getting and it was the former who played the most vital part in assessing those qualities.

Scouting a player often doesn’t get the appreciation it deserves but when you consider the list of clubs who had previously been interested in Berge, it goes to show how important Knill was in the process.

Liverpool and Napoli had been parties to look at the holding midfielder but it was the Blades he eventually signed for.

Knill saw him in action on multiple occasions and something like that will have surely caught Berge’s eye when determining who to go to.

The 55-year-old coach isn’t just useful on the training ground, but behind the scenes, he is an imperative cog who is trusted to make judgement calls on potential new recruits.

The addition of the former Genk man was a coup, but United’s methods were thorough and they deservedly got their man at the end of it.

Meanwhile, check out what Chris Wilder had Berge do on his first day as a Blades player…