Sheffield United's latest transfer plans as deadline day approaches
The deadline for new signings is 11pm on Tuesday and Sheffield United still have work to do
The arrival of Ben Brereton-Diaz at Bramall Lane on Friday will not be the last new signing of the summer transfer window... or at least that’s the plan.
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is still looking to add to his squad, having brought in Matt Doherty, Romelle Donovan and Brereton-Diaz so far.
The remergence of some players who looked like they may have pulled on a United shirt for the final time, has eased the panic in some respects.
Mark McGuinness had been told that he wouldn’t be part of Wilder’s plans going forward but ended up playing most of pre-season and has since kept his place in the team. Whather that continues to be the case is another matter but it doesn’t look like he’s going to leave South Yorkshire.
Similarly, while there was no public statement from Wilder about the future of Rhys Norrington-Davies, it had been expected that having spent a season at QPR last year and with other Championship clubs interested in bringing him in, the Wales international looked like heading away from Sheffield.
A couple of good performances in the summer and again since the campiagn has begun has since meant that Norrington-Davies’ versatility - he can play at left back as well as on the left of a three in central defence if a tactical switch is made - has proven to be a trait that United could benefit from throughout the season.
Despite this, Wilder is still hopeful of another central defender coming in, with The Star reporting last week that former Brighton defender Adam Webster had already spent some time at Shirecliffe.
The fact that he is a free agent means that both parties can afford to sit out and wait beyond the closing of the transfer window at 11pm on Tuesday night.
How many players do Sheffield United want?
Interestingly Wilder, speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Cardiff City on Saturday, indicated that he still wants two or three with one of those having to come in to provide cover at right back following the unfortunate injury sustained by Femi Seriki in Tuesday’s carabao Cup win over Blackburn Rovers.
Cody Dramah has been mentioned as a possibility but there are understood to be further options being tracked.
Don’t also rule out something a little leftfield as well before Tuesday, with teams in the Premier League holding on as long as they can before making a proper decision on their fringe players.
At this stage, some of them are hoping to offload players on a permanent deal, which rules out United but when it comes down to Tuesday, many of them will have little option than to allow the player to go on loan.
As far as Wilder is concerned, there is still plenty of work to be done and he wants it done quickly so as to have the possibility of throwing any newcomers straight into consideration for Tuesday’s match against Bolton at Bramall Lane. The player would have to be signed by 12pm on Monday if that were to be the case.
What Chris Wilder has said about the final days of the transfer window
“I always thought it was going to be difficult with the midweek game and getting things out of the line,” Wilder said. “We're pretty close to a couple as well.
“So I'm confident with the owners' backing and thankful of their backing and their support that we can get the other two or three over the line in the next 24, 48 hours to get them available. Hopefully in the building on Sunday, recovery day after the Cardiff game, to be registered before 12 on Monday to take part on Tuesday. Because that's important that we bolster the squad as soon as possible.
“Yeah, it's been a really slow process. I think everybody understands that, with the World Cup and the way everything sort of panned out off the back of that and how slow it's been for everybody. But we're moving, we're motoring. It was always going to be this way.
“I talked about it. I thought it was always going to be really the back end the last week, the last three or four days. But we're confident that we can get a couple of things done that will put us in good shape. We've got a couple of injuries at the moment that we're having to deal with.
“But Romelle [Donovan] playing well on Tuesday, Kalvin [Phillips] coming on and having 30, 35 minutes of football is a real positive one for us. Getting Ben [Brereton-Diaz] done, hopefully the two or three really to put us in a position to shut the door. To get on with the job of putting together a team, building that team.”