Sheffield United linked with move for former Derby County man Johnny Russell ahead of Championship return

The Scottish international left the Rams to join Sporting Kansas City in 2018, and national newspaper reports suggest that the Blades and Fulham are looking into his availability ahead of their rebuild for the Championship next season.

Newcastle are also said to be interested in the 31-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the year.

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Russell has played five of his club’s six MLS games so far this season, having finished the last campaign with six goals and four assists to his name.

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As ever with these links, it’s important to add the caveat that United don’t actually have a manager at the minute.

Paul Heckingbottom, the interim manager, is assisting the board in an advisory capacity, but it’s unlikely that that extends to incoming players with the risk that the new man may not fancy whoever is signed before him.

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So if there’s any credence to this story at all, it may just be that someone at United has explored Russell’s contract situation to present him as an option as and when the new manager is appointed.

The player himself is only 31 and always stood out for me as a threat whenever United played Derby, cutting in onto his left foot. The fans there seemed to rate him highly and although he certainly isn’t one for the long term, if he does arrive at Bramall Lane it would certainly signal a change in approach after five years without wingers…

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