The 2023/24 campaign was a disastrous one for the Blades, as they were relegated from the Premier League to the Championship after just a single season back in the top-flight of English football.
In doing so, the club won just 16 points and conceded a record 104 goals, meaning changes are going to have to be made for the coming campaign.
It has already been announced that a number of high profile players will leave Sheffield United this summer when their contracts expire.
The likes of George Baldock, Chris Basham, Wes Foderingham, Oliver Norwood and Max Lowe are all set to move on to pastures new.
Now it seems as though another individual who could be given the chance to depart Bramall Lane this summer, is Daniel Jebbison.
Leeds United linked with Sheffield United striker
Leeds United has reportedly eyed Jebbison as a possible summer transfer target, according to recent HITC reports.
After rising through the Blades’ junior system, Jebbison scored in a May 2021 victory over Everton to become the youngest player to score on his debut Premier League start.The striker has made 35 appearances for Sheffield United in all competitions, totaling three goals scored.
Jebbison is currently another player whose contract at Bramall Lane expires at the end of this year.
The team has acknowledged that they have made him an offer to sign a new contract that will keep him with the team through the 2024–2025 season and beyond.But Sheffield United may live to regret it if he decides against signing that deal with the Blades and instead completes a move to Leeds United.
Losing Jebbison to Leeds would be a blow for the Blades
There are several reasons why Sheffield United would consider it a blow in the current situation if Jebbison were to leave for Leeds this summer.
It’s true that he doesn’t have the most impressive goal scoring record for the Blades as a striker. Nevertheless, as some of his cameos have demonstrated, he is still a talented player with a lot to offer going forward.If they can hang onto him, he has plenty of time left to mature at the age of 20 and develop into a valuable asset for the team.
It may also be claimed that his efforts to gain momentum and have a bigger influence in front of goal have arguably been hindered by the fact that his appearances for Sheffield United have been spaced out across several years, with many of them coming as substitutes.
A return of nine goals in 23 appearances on loan in League One with Burton Albion back in the first-half of the 2021/22 season does suggest that regular game time could see him find that scoring touch.
Having been relegated this season, Sheffield United will no doubt be aiming for an immediate promotion back to the Premier League next time around.
Leeds though, will also be taking a similar perspective after their defeat to Southampton in the play-off final last month.
If Jebbison was to make the move to Elland Road, it would not only weaken the Blades’ squad in a key season, it could also strengthen a direct rival for Championship promotion.
Meanwhile, the striker’s contract situation also means that if he did leave for Leeds without signing a new deal at Bramall Lane, Sheffield United would only be entitled to a compensation fee for his services.
In other news, Oli McBurnie is reportedly interested in Turkey, so it’s unclear if he’ll be staying with the team past this summer.
This could imply that if Jebbison and McBurnie both depart before their contracts expire, the Blades will have lost two strikers who will require replacements. As a result, very little money from their departures will remain to be put in finding their successors.
In light of all mentioned above, it would appear that Sheffield United, in spite of Leeds United’s interest, should be making every effort at this time to persuade Jebbison to sign a new contract at Bramall Lane.
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