Sheffield United transfer notebook: Fresh Reyes Cleary twist, Middlesbrough join target race and ex-Blade's new club
Sheffield United transfer notebook: Fresh Reyes Cleary twist, Middlesbrough join target race and ex-Blade's new club
Another man walked through the Sheffield United exit door yesterday, with the Blades still to kickstart their summer transfer work in terms of incomings. Andre Brooks became the 11th senior player to leave the Lane this summer when he joined Norwich City.
That move left another hole for Chris Wilder to plug, although the Blades’ recruitment team do have a list of alternative targets for each position should any of their players be prised away this summer.
One wideman who has previously been a player of interest for United is Barnsley man Reyes Cleary, who plays off the other wing to Brooks but certainly fits the profile United were searching for this summer.
The plan at the end of the season was to have genuine width off both flanks, with Gus Hamer earmarked for a move to a more central position should he still be at Bramall Lane when the transfer window slams shut in early September.
Cleary has suitors elsewhere, with Derby County also linked, and Barnsley have been open and honest about the fact that they may need to sell if a suitable offer comes in. Perhaps the clearest hint yet that they expect interest is their own pursuit for another winger, Australian Clayton Taylor.
He plays Down Under for Newcastle Jets and could be a tailor-made replacement for Cleary, with the Reds understood to be keen to maximise the value of a player they only signed last summer from West Bromwich Albion.
Middlesbrough join transfer chase for Sheffield United target
Another player on United’s radar this summer is Aston Villa’s Lewis Dobbin, fresh from his impressive loan spell at Preston North End. As we reported earlier this year, he is the sort of calibre of loan player United are eyeing up - ones with prior experience of the Championship.
Preston would love to take him back again next term after he shone at Deepdale but Middlesbrough have reportedly joined the queue of admirers for the 23-year-old, who has two years left on his contract with Villa.
Villa finished fourth in the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, so it remains to be seen what part Dobbin plays in their future. Boro, who come to Bramall Lane on Boxing Day next season after losing last season’s play-off final, have also been linked with former Blade Daniel Jebbison.
Former Sheffield United man lands new club after Bramall Lane release
As well as the 11 senior players to depart this summer there were a host of youngsters leaving Bramall Lane, including Owen Hampson. He’d featured for the first team but was told that his future lay elsewhere at the end of last season.
The 21-year-old midfielder, capped twice at U21 level by Wales, has signed for Hartlepool United, becoming the National League side’s fifth signing of the summer already. He told the club website: I’m delighted to be joining Hartlepool United and I can’t wait to get started.
“This is a massive opportunity for me at a really important stage of my career. I’ve learned a huge amount during my time at Manchester United and Sheffield United, but now I’m at the point where I want to establish myself in senior football, make my mark and show what I can do.
“It was clear there is a real vision for the football club and, as a young player looking to establish myself in senior football, that really appealed to me.”