Sheffield United have a big summer ahead to prepare themselves for life back in the Championship this season.
The Blades never really got going in the Premier League and limped back into the second tier after a relatively dire attempt at avoiding relegation.
That comes at the same time as the club being the subject of a takeover, which may deliver promise in the long run but is acting as another spanner in the works in the present as the footballing staff try to conclude deals with an uncertain backdrop.
Here, Football League World suggests what the perfect summer transfer window might look like at Bramall Lane…
Few Blades players left last season with much credit in the bank, but a particularly stark example of the tough times at Bramall Lane was the showings of recent recruit Ivo Grbic.
He only signed from Atletico Madrid for a reported fee £2million in January this year, but a tough introduction to English football has led United to open the possibility of his departure just over half a year later.
That the club are already willing to offload him suggests they feel they’ve made a mistake, and they could find a route to cut their losses early through Spanish club Leganes’ interest.
Recouping some of the money recently paid for a player that the club has clearly lost some faith in would go down as a good start for the Blades.
Joe Worrall (In)
The Blades may be in for another challenging season as they undergo changes both on and off the field. After several of the former senior players left at the conclusion of their contracts this summer, adding some experience to the squad might be crucial.
Thus, it should come as no surprise that the team has been connected to Nottingham Forest’s Joe Worrall. Despite his lack of popularity at the City Ground, the 27-year-old has a plethora of experience, having spent most of it at Forest, where he played on the precarious border between Championship and Premier League football.
United find themselves in a similar situation now and, with the exit of the likes of Chris Basham and John Egan, the club are crying out for some leadership and experience in the back line.
Worrall’s age means he has the perfect mix of pedigree and years ahead of him to make him an attractive option.
Ricky-Jade Jones (In)
The attacking unit at Bramall Lane has lost some firepower in the departures of Daniel Jebbison and Oli McBurnie and has stagnated slightly elsewhere in the case of Rhian Brewster.
Adding a young, hungry, attacking forward could bring the revitalisation needed in the Blades’ front line and one strong candidate is Ricky-Jade Jones from Peterborough United.
The 21-year-old notched nine goals and four assists in 43 League One appearances last season and has already played 18 games in the Championship back when the Posh were in the division.
He can play through the middle or on the left flank, usefully opening up Wilder’s options in terms of structures he could play with Jones.
It is little wonder that the club are thought to be exploring a deal for the young forward, which would bolster a creative department that struggled for goals last season.
Leave a Reply