Sheffield United Transfers: What can we expect from Blades on Deadline Day?

Sheffield United have already seen their main target, Jesse Lingard, head to West Ham on loan for the remainder of the season but what can we expect to be happening on the transfer front on Monday?

Our United writers James Shield and Danny Hall offer their views and where Chris Wilder’s squad needs strengthening and whether or not they will manage to do it.

James Shield

You only need to scan through Sheffield United’s squad list to see exactly where Chris Wilder would like to strengthen, and why.

There is no shortage of centre-forwards at the manager’s disposal. But in defence and midfield, the two areas which have borne the brunt of an injury crisis he describes as the worst he has ever known since stepping into the dug-out two decades ago, there is an acute shortage of options.

At Manchester United last week, where United stunned Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s title-chasing side, there was no direct replacement for either Oliver Norwood, John Lundstram or John Fleck on the bench. If one of those three join Bramall Lane’s lengthy casualty list, then Wilder, who has often struggled to name a full complement of substitutes in recent weeks, would be facing an even bigger problem than the ones he is wrestling with right now.

It explains why he was so keen to try and lure Jesse Lingard to South Yorkshire, until West Ham stepped in and offered the England international an escape route out of Old Trafford, where he has played next to no football this term.

Although the need for reinforcements in that area has become even more acute since Christmas, with Lundstram seemingly destined to depart when his contract expires at the end of the season, an even more long-standing vacancy appears destined to remain unfilled unless United spring a surprise during the final 24 hours of the window.

Everyone knew losing Jack O’Connell would be a major blow, when news the centre-half required knee surgery broke at the end of September. But nobody suspected quite how big, with his absence one of the major factors why Wilder’s side find themselves facing a major battle to avoid relegation.

O’Connell’s physical presence has been a miss. Likewise, given the way United like their three man defence to operate, his ability to power upfield on the overlap. But O’Connell’s passing range and crossing ability made him a pivotal figure in Wilder’s preferred 3-5-2 system.

Ethan Ampadu, on loan from Chelsea, has been required to learn on the job and with no direct replacement at Wilder’s disposal for this most specialist of roles, United’s initial response was to deploy Enda Stevens alongside John Egan and Chris Basham. It appeared to be a wise choice at the time but one which, in reflection, weakened them in two areas rather than one.

Danny Hall

Sheffield United went into the January transfer window looking at securing two loan signings after their owner, Prince Abdullah, publicly stated that would be the case.

With the window shutting very shortly, United haven't strengthened at all and arguably, they need to now more than ever.

What Prince Abdullah said about the January transfer window as Sheffield United seek Jack O'Connell replacement

In recent weeks they haven't been able to even fill their bench with a full complement of substitutes, never mind possess the kind of squad depth to help them out of the relegation trouble they find themselves still mired in.

Chris Wilder felt United had a chance of landing Jesse Lingard on loan, even going to the trouble of pitching a detailed proposal to the player and his advisers. He's gone elsewhere, as has Ben Davies, their top target to cover the injured Jack O'Connell on the left of defence.

If United are to bring in any fresh blood this window, time is running out for them to do so.

Doing so could just provide the boost needed to maintain their survival push, which had fresh life breathed into it recently with the magnificent, against-all-odds victory at Manchester United.

Going to Old Trafford with a patched-up defence and a handful of fit substitutes and winning showed that the players and manager haven't given up on staying in the Premier League just yet. Soon, by the time the transfer window slams shut late on Monday evening, we'll have a pretty good idea if the owner and board has.

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