Sheffield United transfer news: Interest ‘growing’ in Blades star with Brighton linked, Watford ‘in discussions’ with new striker

Sheffield United return to EFL Championship action tonight, looking for just their second win of the new season.

The Blades drew 2-2 in their last outing against Middlesbrough at The Riverside and, so far, their only win came earlier in the month at home to Millwall.

Tonight’s opponents are Sunderland, who have started life in the division well after their promotion from League One.

The Black Cats are unbeaten in the league so far with one win and two draws but their last match against QPR saw Alex Neil’s side squander a 2-0 lead with Seny Dieng netting an injury time equaliser at The Stadium of Light to ensure a share of the points.

“They’re playing with the excitement and energy of a promoted team,” said Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom.

“Which makes them dangerous and we have to be ready for that. I like that challenge and I think our players do and it’ll make for a real good game.

“They had 37,000 at their last home game, so it is a big club. They’re mad about their football and are desperate to see their team do well.

“But all that is irrelevant for us though. We just know they’re coming with an attitude of a team just promoted: ‘Nothing to lose, let’s take them on.’

“If they come with that attitude, it’ll be a real good game.”

Meanwhile, the summer transfer window is open for just under two weeks before it slams shut at the end of the month for clubs across England.

Here are the EFL Championship transfer news stories making the headlines on Wednesday morning:

Swansea City head coach Russell Martin has admitted that the club may need to bolster their defensive options during the closing stages of the transfer window after Joel Latibeaudiere picked up an injury in yesterday’s clash with Millwall (Football League World)

Former Norwich City, Rotherham United, Millwall, Reading and Sunderland striker Lewis Grabban is on the radar of West Bromwich Albion following his decision to leave Nottingham Forest (The Athletic)

Watford are in discussions with Fluminense over a deal for attacker Matheus Martins (The 72 via The Athletic)

Newcastle United are ready to submit a new bid for Joao Pedro of £25million plus add-ons (Football Insider)

Crystal Palace and Bournemouth are emerging as the leading contenders to sign Bristol City’s Antoine Semenyo before the transfer deadline (Football League World)

Middlesbrough have ‘submitted a bid’ of €10 million to sign FC Groningen’s Jørgen Strand Larsen (Sport Witness via TV2)

Interest is growing in Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge – with Brighton and multiple other Premier League clubs facing competition from France and Germany – but any deal will have to reflect the concerns about his long-term fitness (Football League World)

Burnley remain close to completing a deal for Macedonia international Darko Churlinov after agreeing €3.5 million fee with Stuttgart and the player is set to undergo a medical this week (Lancashire Live)