Getting real: 16 top-flight transfer targets

Bargain hunting, value finding and succession planning for the Premier League

May 01, 2023

Clickbaity headline aside, this ain’t just a list. But if you feel missold, feel free to click here to skip to the list of transfer targets

Getting real

It’s the Bank Holiday Monday after the Saturday before. A week of promotion, trophy lifting and end-of-season awards. As a great man once said: Unbelievable scenes; outrageous scenes.

With only a week until our final game, thoughts turn to next season. To the Sheffield United players who will start in our first game in the Premier League. Who will we bring in? Will we actually make more than one permanent signing this time?

However our transfer policy unravels, there’s a certain reality check we need to face up to:

The budget will be a bottom-three budget
The current owner wants to sell within four weeks, and the ramification of this upon our transfer activity is worryingly uncertain
James McAtee and Tommy Doyle will not be our players, which is a huge loss to our squad depth (although that doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t try and sign them)
We have a full team of players - a good team, too - whose contracts expire in June:
- Oliver Norwood
- Billy Sharp
- Enda Stevens
- John Fleck
- Oli McBurnie
- Jack O'Connell
- Wes Foderingham
- Jack Robinson
- Ben Osborn
- Kyron Gordon
- Jordan Amissah
- Femi Seriki

That is twelve players plus two loanees, so fourteen players whose departures (if they all left) would signal massive disruption to Sheffield United Football Club. Of course, they won’t all leave, and Paul Heckingbottom has already made clear that he wants to keep most of them.

Most!? WHAT?! REALLLLLLLY!?

I think there will be many fans who worry about relying on our current squad to put up a good scrap in the Premier League. I share some of those concerns, but the reality is that unless we keep most of them, Heckingbottom’s task in the transfer market will be made all the harder. Plus, those that are already here are tuned into our patterns of play. So, I hope we keep eight or nine and then look to find value in the transfer market.

Value

Finding Waitrose players at Poundland is difficult but not impossible. Sheffield United need to find value over a summer of change. Premiership ‘riches’ and expiring contracts will give Paul Heckingbottom some room for manoeuvre, but I don’t foresee huge spending. And I believe - and I sincerely hope - our transfer strategy mirrors the approach we took in signing Anel Ahmedhodžić. That is to say:

buying at a price that locks-in value
buying at an age that locks-in value
buying players with the potential to outgrow our football club (because, in modern football, that’s what everyone outside the top 4/5 must do).

Price. Age. Potential.

So, let’s get to a list…

There is value in the EFL; I’m convinced of that. And whilst I expect our summer business to be weighted more towards overseas recruitment, I’m listing players I’ve seen with my own two eyes, as opposed to players who are banging-in goals in European leagues that I don’t watch. I watch the EFL, and that’s where most of these players come from. What follows is a list of targets that I think would make good additions. They aren’t rumours; I’m not in the know.

NB: asterisked players* are my favourite targets

FINDING VALUE IN THE EFL

Goalkeeper

We need a new keeper. Signing one doesn’t necessarily confine Wes Foderingham to the bench (plus we have to sign him up to a new deal first), but competition is critical. In the top flight, we need at least two keepers who can compete at the level.

VICTOR JOHANSEN, Rotherham*

Within the quartet of keepers who have a 75% ratio for saving shots on target alongside Muric (Burnley), Palmer (WBA) and Horvath (Luton), Rotherham’s Victor Johansen has the potential to be one of those “generation goalkeepers” at Sheffield United.
He’s 24 years old; he’s made more saves than anyone else in the league (despite missing recent games through injury); he was immense for Rotherham when they beat us at home this season - I don’t recall a better goalkeeping performance.
Surely with his location nearby and our top-flight standing, this is realistic. [££]

Centre back

I don’t think we’ll be in the market for a centre-back to replace John Egan. Nevertheless, succession planning and adding competition in what is a vital position will be important. In my head, this is a ‘let’s get one in for the future' position.

EIRAN CASHIN, Derby*

He’s 21 years old and played more than 50 games, including 40+ starts this season where he tops Derby’s charts for interceptions, tackles won, and non-GK minutes played.
We need some smart succession planning for Egan/Ahmedhodžić.
Even if Derby are promoted, they’re going to struggle to keep him. Sign him now, bed him in, watch him grow. [££]

BEN WILMOT, Stoke

Played more games than any other Stoke City player. Granted, they haven’t had a great season, but he’s made more interceptions than any other Stoke player (68) and that’s only a few behind John Egan in the overall Championship standings (74).
He’s 23, a good age. I have some reservations about his aerial ability, but let’s face it, you don’t have to contend with the same levels of bombardment in the top-flight. Great option for cover, with some potential. [££]

Left centre back

We need another quality player in this position no matter what happens. Jack Robinson may stick around. Norrington-Davies may recover perfectly from injury. Even so, we need more. You won’t find ready-built replacements for Jack O’Connell easily - we still haven’t. But we need a left-footed centre back who offers more than winning tackles, interceptions and headers.

JACOB GREAVES, Hull*

A 22-year-old left-footed centre-half / left-back who’s already made more than 150 league appearances, and played well in both games this season against the Blades. Stats-wise, he’s fourth on the list this season for the number of dribblers tackled (53); a skill we need in the top flight.
He signed a long-term contract with Hull at the start of the season, and with their relatively new and well-doshed owner, they probably don’t need to sell. [£££]

AUSTON TRUSTY, Arsenal

American CB on loan at Birmingham; has made a lot of tackles, blocks and interceptions in a team that has ailed all season - cover with potential?
Probably has no future at Arsenal. [££]

Left wing back

I like Max Lowe. He’ll make starts. But we need another body. Perhaps someone who offers an obvious point of difference, someone who can attack defences and create chances from out wide.

RYAN MANNING, Swansea*

An attacking left wing back who scored five goals and made nine assists this season. Manning offers something different to Lowe.
He’s available on a free after turning down a new contract with Swansea. [£]

BALI MUMBA, Norwich

On loan at Plymouth Argyle, Mumba has just won League One’s Young Player Year in a season where he’s contributed goals and assists AND tops the Argyle rankings for winning possession through tackles.
Would he be ready to step up? Would Norwich sell? I have more doubts about the latter than the former. [£££]

Centre midfield & #10

Here’s where I make a controversial argument. When we were last relegated from the Premier League, our problem was not so much a lack of finishing, but a lack of creativity. We had become formulaic; predictable. We need more smarts. And I think there’s greater value in adding to the quality of our attacks rather than the quality of our attackers. So, in central midfield/attacking midfield/No.10, we need options.

TOMMY DOYLE, Man City*

We’re in a position (status-wise, I don’t know about financially) to sign Tommy Doyle, and whilst we need players who bring something new, we also need consistency and succession planning. I don’t need to tell anyone how good he is.
Don’t think he’ll be staying at City, but we might not have the funds. [£££]

DAN NEIL, Sunderland*

The Blades get called dirty a lot, but I don’t think we’re hard or physical enough in central midfield. An all-action central midfielder would be a dream, and Neil is 21, a tackler, a passer, a header-er.

In the Championship hit parade, he ranks 8th for tackles and tackles won, 9th for progressive passes, 9th for passes into the final third. And last season, in League One, he made 8 goals. Young, hungry, a categorically Sheffield United style player. [£££]

TAHITH CHONG, Birmingham*

When clubs sign players who are the natural successor to another, it’s always smart. I repeat: succession planning. Chong’s a head-and-shoulders player. You can’t fail to notice him: he carries it, dribbles, drops a shoulder. He's a natural Sander Berge replacement if needed and/or offers genuine competition.
Surely there’s a minimum fee clause for a player who made the jump from Man United? Surely he’d be interested? Surely would cost a bit. [£££]

ILIAS CHAIR, QPR*

He’s only 25! He’s quality and dribbly. And quality, dribbly players should be on our radar. We’ve seen their impact: keep the ball out of the net, and those individuals (Ndiaye, McAtee, Berge) can unlock defences like practised patterns of play cannot. Chair has the most shot-creating actions for a team that doesn’t fire on all cylinders.
We’ll never replace Ndiaye, and hopefully, Ndiaye stays for one more season; but if not, here’s an obvious replacement.
Will be lots of interest; he’s contracted until 2025, so this is surely the window he’ll leave QPR. [££-£££]

ALEX SCOTT, Bristol City

One of the outstanding talents in the EFL. So outstanding that you’d have thought he’ll command upwards of £20 million. Ticks every box. Almost certainly never going to happen, but it’s one of those would love it if he came ambitions…
There’ll be bigger clubs after him, but maaaaybe there’s a chance of signing him with an offer of exposure via first-team football in the top flight. [££££]

Strikers

I think there’s a big season ahead for Daniel Jebbison (and I wrote that line before his superb cameo against Preston). He’s miles ahead of where Dominic Calvert-Lewin was at the same age, and look at how quickly DLC developed at Everton. And that, alongside Brewster’s return, to my mind, reduces the desperation for a striker. But still…

VIKTOR GYÖKERES, Coventry*

This is the most unrealistic target on this list (or joint with A. Scott). But if we could find the funds, we have to. Why?
Goals, yes: obviously.
But also, right up there around the top of the ranking for shot creation, goal creation, and assists!
This wouldn’t be a punt: he’s got it. He’ll probably end up elsewhere. But this is the dream signing, and I would have every confidence he’d score 10+ goals in the top flight.
No chance if Cov make the prem, small chance if they don’t. [££££]

TEEMU PUKKI, Free agent*

Speaking of punts……………. Pukki; discuss.
He still looked quick to me at Bramall Lane earlier in the season and has a track record of scoring goals (10+) in the prem.
He doesn’t fit the ‘value model’ for age reasons, but he’s scored goals - a calculated risk on a short-run deal? I think so.
He’s available on a free. [£]

LOANS

(LWB) ÁLVARO FERNÁNDEZ, Man United

Currently on loan at Preston (and was one of the better players for a poor Preston side on Saturday), where he’s played more than 30 times this season; maybe a prudent signing on a season-long loan?

(AM) JAMES MCATEE, Man City*

I don’t see us signing him on a permanent. He could have a future at City, but I can’t see him getting games for them next season - maybe one that suits all parties? But maybe he gets a few appearances in the first team.