When Frank Lampard’s unbeaten Coventry City visits South Yorkshire on Friday, Sheffield United fans will be anxiously awaiting the start of Championship play for the Blades.
Even though the scorching Sky Blues have only picked up nine of a possible twelve points in March, Chris Wilder will be confident that his team can defeat the visitors because a win could temporarily move his high-flying team to the top of the constantly shifting second-tier table.
This summer will be interesting to watch at Bramall Lane as several loanees return to their parent clubs and a lot of top earners continue to be paid, regardless of whether the Blades play Premier League or Championship football next season.
The state of Sheffield United’s wage bill in 2024/25
Despite blowing hot and cold throughout his stay in South Yorkshire to date, United are reportedly looking to tie Rhian Brewster down to a new deal past this summer, even as the ex-Liverpool starlet rakes in a handsome £35k-per-week salary.
That makes him the club’s joint third-highest earner behind £50k-per-week Hamza Choudhury, £45k-per-week Rob Holding and fellow £35k-per-week earner Ben Brereton-Diaz.
Likewise, it also wouldn’t be a great shock if United attempted to tie down the likes of Jack Robinson and Michael Cooper to extensions in the near future, with Cooper, in particular, proving to be invaluable in-between the sticks at points this season with a stunning 19 clean sheets in league action.
Both players in question earn a more modest £25k-per-week and £17.5k-per-week respectively, with promotion perhaps seeing Cooper’s wage be boosted.
Wilder will want more from Tom Cannon whatever happens, with the £10m centre-forward yet to find the back of the net for the Blades since his January move which makes his weekly salary of £25k look even steeper.
Patience will likely be exercised on the end of Wilder and Co when it comes to Cannon, but that same restraint might not be applied to this injury-prone figure…
Sheffield United must forget about “outstanding” star
Difficult decisions will have to be made by the Blades boss with new signings aplenty likely needed if United jump back up to the Premier League or disastrously stay put in the EFL.
Therefore, Wilder might well decide to get rid of midfielder Tom Davies in order to balance the books appropriately, with the former Everton man a high earner in the current camp despite often finding himself sidelined through injury.
Davies has shone in spurts for his side this season, especially when he hammered home a fine effort versus Sunderland back in November, with Wilder even heralding the injury-prone number 22 as “outstanding” during this run in the first team.
But, 2025 to date has seen the Liverpool-born midfielder line up just five times for the promotion-chasers, leaving his manager second guessing as to whether the 26-year-old is someone he can rely on in the long term.
| Davies’ numbers at United | |
|---|---|
| Games played | 12 |
| Goals scored | 1 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Games missed through injury | 17 |
| Wage cost per week | £30k-per-week |
| Wage costs over a year | £1.3m |
Amazingly, Davies earns £30k-per-week, which means he pockets the same bumper salary as the likes of first-team regulars Gustavo Hamer, Vinicius Souza and Anel Ahmedhodzic, despite being absent from action for 17 Championship games across 2024/25.
Whilst he does also boast some significant Premier League experience – with 164 top-flight contests under his belt – there’s no guarantee he’d be able to adjust back to the level swimmingly, considering he has tallied up just two goal contributions from his last 59 outings in the unforgiving division.
Therefore, the kindest final outcome here might well be to part ways, with both Cooper and Cannon perhaps growing into their tough new environment, whilst Davies’ best could now be behind him.
