Exclusive:Marc Leonard: Sheffield United's actual transfer stance over Birmingham City man as Chris Wilder appearance v Rangers sets tongues wagging
Chris Wilder’s presence in the stands as Hearts beat Rangers earlier this week set tongues wagging - but we can now clarify Sheffield United’s transfer stance over Marc Leonard
The ink is barely dry on the sorry story of Sheffield United’s underwhelming 2025/26 season, but the silly summer season has already seen thoughts quickly turn towards the transfer market. Unitedites, in truth, have been looking towards the close-season for a fair while.
It gives boss Chris Wilder a chance to perform yet more major surgery on the Blades as he prepares for his third major rebuild of his boyhood club in the space of a decade. This, he has already admitted, is the most challenging of them all.
The path back to recovery won’t be a straightforward one but the course of treatment has long been since identified; experience, culture, personality. United, as we reported recently, would be interested in re-signing Kyle Walker this summer following Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League.
Centre-half is another priority position, with Leo Hjelde and Ben Mee departing this summer and Mark McGuinness’s future at Bramall Lane uncertain. Elsewhere United are better stocked, including in the middle of the park.
Joe Rothwell, Jairo Riedewald - who is set to remain in South Yorkshire this summer - Oliver Arblaster and Sydie Peck is a perfect blend of experience and youth, with United keeping half an eye on the market in case Peck in particular is prised away this summer.
But one midfielder the Blades are not monitoring is Marc Leonard. The 24-year-old is on loan at Hearts from United’s Championship rivals Birmingham City, with the Blades this week linked with a move after Wilder was seen in the stands as Hearts beat Rangers on Monday.
United were also credited with interest in Leonard before he joined the Blues, from Brighton and Hove Albion back in 2024. But The Star understands that he is not on United’s radar, amid fresh links this week with Glasgow giants Celtic.
Wilder is understood to have been at Monday’s game in a personal capacity having travelled to visit friends north of the border. He will no doubt have enjoyed what he saw, though, as a 2-1 Hearts win virtually ended Rangers’ title hopes.
Rangers, of course, are managed by Wilder’s old adversary Danny Rohl, and it is no secret that their relationship is somewhat strained from their time doing battle in the Steel City.