Sheffield United transfer target's £9m move leaves Blades at a crossroads as another rival raises the bar
Another Championship rival appears set to flex its financial muscle in the transfer market, leaving Sheffield United’s owners facing more uncomfortable questions about their own summer recruitment as they look to somehow keep pace
Sheffield United have been handed another huge transfer warning after one of their Championship rivals look to tie up the signing of a player very much on the Blades’ radar. As we revealed earlier in the summer, Aston Villa’s Lewis Dobbin was a Bramall Lane target this summer.
The forward had just completed a successful loan spell at Preston North End and with United searching for options out wide, he had been identified as a perfect match for their needs.
There were even reports last week that a deal to bring him to South Yorkshire was advanced, which we understand to have been wide of the mark. Our information was that Villa wanted to sell Dobbin, rather than loan him, with a fee north of £5m out of United’s reach.
And the 23-year-old is now closing in on a return to the Championship, albeit not with United. Reports from the Athletic have suggested that Dobbin is undergoing a medical today at Southampton ahead of a £9m move that also includes various add-ons.
That has blown United out of the water financially, with yet again much of the Blades’ recruitment focus this summer being placed on frees and loans. Southampton were condemned to another season in the Championship after the Spygate saga last term but have signalled their ambition to go one better next term.
So have many others across the division. Norwich City have raided Bramall Lane for one of the Blades’ best young prospects in Andre Brooks, who moved to Norfolk for a similar fee to Dobbin’s.
Ethan Galbraith spoke of being attracted by Stoke City’s “ambition” after moving to Staffordshire from Swansea City in an eight-figure move. Both Norwich and Stoke are in the same boat as United in terms of not being propped up by Premier League parachute payments.
Spending does not always equate to success, of course, but it usually gives a much better chance and as things stand United look at risk of being left behind.
The three relegated clubs are set to be strong again, and the likes of Birmingham City and Wrexham expected to splash the cash again this summer as they look to break into the newly-expanded promotion picture.
Six teams will contest next season’s play-offs but at the minute can United realistically say they will be one of them? The budget has been trimmed by double-digit departures over the summer with Brentford loan man Romelle Donovan the only new face so far.
That, surely, has to change soon. The United party that travelled to Spain for a warm-weather camp this week was made up of a number of young players and with all respect to the likes of Zach Giggs and Harry McGlinchey, a left-back by trade who has played on the right wing in both of United’s friendlies so far, that is a concern.
Co-owners Steve Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy are under extra scrutiny after being served with a winding-up petition by former owner Prince Abdullah over missed instalments.
Fans, and understandably so, are starting to lose confidence, faith and hope. The club is at a crossroads and with others in the Championship setting out the route, two men alone are in charge of deciding its next turn.