Under Chris Wilder, Sheffield United is having a great season in the Championship this year, and the Steel City team hopes to make a quick return to the Premier League.
It was an interesting season because of the situation at Bramall Lane seven months ago. The Blades started their second-tier comeback with a two-point deficit that was quickly erased, and they spent most of the season in the running for promotion alongside Leeds United, Burnley, and Sunderland.
The reported £111 million buyout of COH Sports in December, which opened the door for high-profile January arrivals like Tom Cannon and the loan return of Ben Brereton Diaz, gave United supporters even more cause for celebration.
There is plenty of quality in all sections of Wilder’s squad as the season enters its climax, with plenty of significant decisions also likely to be made in the coming weeks and months, and ones which could rely on which league the club participates in next term.
While Harry Clarke, Hamza Choudhury, Rob Holding, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, and Alfie Gilchrist will return to their parent clubs in June, this could also affect whether the Blades manager decides to make the aforementioned Chilean international’s second loan move to S2 permanent.
Having said that, FLW considers if new terms are necessary for individuals who are now out of contract in South Yorkshire at the end of the current campaign.
Jack Robinson
With more than 140 games since joining from Nottingham Forest in January 2020, Jack Robinson has established himself as a fixture at Bramall Lane. The 31-year-old has continued to contribute a wealth of quality and experience at the back, joining players like Michael Cooper and centre-back partner Anel Ahmedhodzic in goal, as United has one of the worst defensive records in the Championship this season.
After a disappointing one-season return to the Premier League, Robinson was named club captain with the expectation that he would excel in the second division once more after playing a significant role in the team’s 2023 promotion season under Paul Heckingbottom. Wilder’s faith in the Liverpool academy graduate was demonstrated at the beginning of a squad rebuild last summer. It is unclear how much support the boyhood Blade in the dugout will receive to improve every aspect of his squad, despite his defensive prowess since scoring a top-flight record 104 goals.
Many at Bramall Lane are thrilled to learn that Robinson appears to be on track to play for the team for at least another season. According to Danny Hall of the Sheffield Star, the £25,000 weekly earner is expected to sign an extension as soon as possible after signing his most recent contract in July 2023.
“Chris Wilder said recently that Robinson’s extra year would kick in once he played 25 games, but there was some uncertainty over whether that meant 25 appearances, made 25 starts, in the Championship or in all competitions … and there was also a suggestion he’d have to play in 50 percent of United’s games to trigger the extension,” Hall told reporters on March 20th.
Rhian Brewster
Though he rarely lived up to the club-record £23.5 million United paid for his services in October 2020, Rhian Brewster had frequently been a source of annoyance for Red and White supporters. In recent years, though, the former Liverpool player has emerged as one of the Steel City’s most beloved players, at least from a Blades standpoint, particularly after his game-winning goal in the 64th minute against Sheffield Wednesday on March 16.
The striker has been playing well lately after two seasons marred by injuries. He scored his first goal at home since January 2022 with a spectacular finish in yet another pivotal win over Coventry City, a team vying for the playoffs.
Just weeks after Wilder thought the 24-year-old had a lot more to offer the team with only months left on his long five-year contract, Brewster hoped his goal in last month’s Steel City Derby served as a reminder to Blades supporters of his abilities.
Given that the striker is thought to be the club’s highest permanently contracted earner, his recent performances have given the former Swansea City loanee a platform to continue boosting his confidence and goal return at the end of the season. This will undoubtedly give his boss and the hierarchy plenty to think about.
| Sheffield United’s Highest Earners – 24/25 | Weekly Wage | Percentage of Wage Bill |
|---|---|---|
| Hamza Choudhury (Loan) | £50,000 | 8.96% |
| Rob Holding (Loan) | £45,000 | 8.06% |
| Ben Brereton Diaz (Loan) | £35,000 | 6.27% |
| Rhian Brewster | £35,000 | 6.27% |
| All Figures as per Capology | ||
According to reports in February, the parties were negotiating a new contract. These negotiations have continued in recent weeks, which Brewster hopes is another step in the right direction. If the Blades are successful in their promotion attempt, he hopes to eventually establish himself as a top-flight player.
