Sheffield United transfer stance over 15-cap international amid future uncertainty, QPR manager admission
Sheffield United face a key decision in the transfer market this summer, with one player’s future up in the air amid wider squad changes.
Sheffield United have a number of big decisions to make in the transfer market this coming summer as they look to reshape their squad following an underwhelming season. The Blades could lose between 15 and 20 players, manager Chris Wilder has already indicated.
The Blades chief has already signalled his intention to work with a reduced squad next season and their re-shape has already begun with confirmation that Tom Davies will leave Bramall Lane when his contract runs out at the end of June.
Wilder will not want to leave himself light, but there are certain areas he is already well-stocked. Midfield is one, while another is in the left-back area. Sam McCallum will be fit for pre-season after his serious injury at Millwall, and will resume his battle with Harrison Burrows down the left when he returns.
That leaves some uncertainty over the future of Rhys Norrington-Davies. The 15-cap Welsh international was loaned to QPR in the summer in a bid to get him some regular game-time after a pretty torrid time with injury, and he has made 38 appearances for Julien Stephan’s side since.
Sheffield United transfer stance over 15-cap international amid future uncertainty, manager admission
The sight of Norrington-Davies resurrecting his career after two serious hamstring injuries will delight staff behind the scenes at Unitedites, but it seems inconceivable that either party will want him to return to Bramall Lane as effectively third-choice behind Burrows and McCallum.
The understanding is that United would not stand in the defender’s way if another chance to play elsewhere came about, although at the same time they are not in a rush to give away any of their players on the cheap.
The obvious favourite would be a return to Loftus Road, with R’s fans impressed by what they have seen of Norrington-Davies down the left flank. His current Blades deal expires in 2027 meaning, as things stand, he is set to report back to Shirecliffe for pre-season training this summer.
QPR boss Julien Stephan kept his cards close to his chest recently when asked about the defender’s future. “I think he did well this season but I don’t want to speak for the next season,” he said. “He’s not a QPR player, he’s a Sheffield United player.
“He was on loan this season, I think he did well. He played a lot of games. I think it was, since the start of his career, the most football games played in the Championship. It’s a good reference for him. We managed him very well. For the future, I don’t know. He’s under contract with Sheffield United so I can’t say anything more.”
Any money the Blades can raise from fringe players such as Norrington-Davies, to put towards their rebuild, would undoubtedly be good business as they prepare for the loss of Premier League parachute payments this summer.
Chief executive Stephen Bettis has already warned of player sales to help balance the books, with big-earners including Gus Hamer potentially departing. The forward is another who enters the final 12 months of his current deal in the summer, and is yet to communicate whether he would consider fresh terms at Bramall Lane.