Sheffield United might have five players fighting for two roles next season
Sheffield United’s midfield pool might not need an awful lot of maintenance in this upcoming summer’s transfer window.
The 2025/26 Championship campaign has not even reached its conclusion and Sheffield United have already demonstrated how keen they are to get on with this summer’s rebuild.
It was announced on Monday that midfielder Tom Davies will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of June, bringing an end to three injury-plagued years at Bramall Lane. Despite being rated by manager Chris Wilder, the former Everton man’s injury record made it impossible for United to justify offering him another contract.
Wilder wants to make big changes at Bramall Lane this summer after what has been a deeply disappointing campaign. He has frequently addressed the need to recruit players of the right calibre and character, meaning very few members of the current squad are safe from the prospect of being pointed in the direction of the exit.
Loanees Ki-Jana Hoever, Tyler Bindon, Leo Hjelde, Djibril Soumaré, Kalvin Phillips and Chiedozie Ogbene will each return to their parent clubs following the end of the campaign, immediately trimming the size of the squad. Of that sextet of loanees, United, at this stage, are only expected to push to try and re-sign Phillips.
As reported by The Star last week, United would like to explore the prospect of signing the Manchester City loanee for a second time this summer. It is also understood that Phillips, who moved to S2 at the very start of February until the end of the season, would like to return to the club.
At this stage, it is impossible to offer a firm guarantee of what United will attempt to achieve in this summer’s transfer window. However, if they make a breakthrough with City in their quest to re-sign Phillips, it is hard to imagine the Blades, unless they are forced into any unwanted sales, targeting any further midfield additions.
United, looking at the squad as it is now, are very well stocked in midfield. They currently have eight players who are genuine candidates to fill the two deep-lying midfield positions in Wilder’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system. They are Sydie Peck, Oliver Arblaster, Jaïro Riedewald, Joe Rothwell, Alex Matos, Davies, Phillips and Soumaré.
With Davies going to be released, Soumaré to return to Braga, Phillips to head to back to City and Matos a certainty to be sold after making just eight appearances, United’s midfield options will be halved. United are set to trigger an option to extend Riedewald’s contract, meaning he is poised to stay, and he will compete with Arblaster, Peck and Rothwell for a starting berth.
Throw in United’s eagerness to re-sign Phillips and he could complete their midfield options. A five-man pool of Peck, Arblaster, Riedewald, Rothwell and Phillips competing for two midfield spots, certainly on paper, would rank as one of the strongest in the Championship next term.
United’s failure to clinch promotion this season could force them into a headline sale or two, and interest in Peck is never too far away. Nottingham Forest were interested in the England Under-21 international earlier this year.
But if the Blades can fend off likely interest and keep Peck, he will be a key part of Wilder’s plans for next season. He has featured in every game he has been available for since Wilder returned in September.
Peck, Arblaster, Riedewald, Rothwell and Phillips all bring their own qualities to the table, offering a nice blend of defensive nous and energy to get forward. Should United go into next season with that midfield quintet, Wilder will be delighted to have the selection headache they should generate.
Wanting to add both experience and players of the right character to his squad this summer, Phillips ticks that particular box. His injury record does raise valid concerns, but there is certainly a player in there. His quality and experience means other suitors will almost certainly declare interest in his signature, meaning there is no guarantee, at this stage, he will return to S2.
However, the prospect of having Phillips, Arblaster, Riedewald, Peck and Rothwell competing for two spots should drive standards and create some very healthy competition. Wilder would relish that.