Sheffield United are currently undergoing a takeover of the club and will need to spend wisely, not extensively, over the course of the summer transfer window should they look to fight for promotion next season.
Chris Wilder’s squad has been decimated after several players left the club as free agents, including Max Lowe, Wes Foderingham, Ben Osborn, Oli McBurnie, Chris Basham, John Egan, Oliver Norwood, Daniel Jebbison and George Baldock. Meanwhile, the loan deals of Ben Brereton Diaz and Yasser Larouci expired which has left the team down to the bare bones.
However, the Blades have made merely one signing since the market opened almost four weeks ago as Jamie Shackleton penned a three-year deal to make the jump to Bramall Lane from Yorkshire rivals Leeds United after his contract at Elland Road expired at the beginning of the month.
Furthermore, given the ongoing negotiations with the club’s hierarchy and prospective buyers, any business completed by Sheffield United will come in the form of free transfers and loan deals, just like Shackleton’s arrival from Leeds.
One player that has been linked with a move to South Yorkshire and fits the club’s current cash-strapped restrictions is Crystal Palace attacker Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. This is according to journalist Alan Nixon, who has revealed that the Blades face competition for the 21-year-old from fellow Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn Rovers and Luton Town.
However, Nixon also claims that the player himself is keen to remain close to Selhurst Park in London so Luton and QPR are preferable options for him at this moment in time which could make a switch to Sheffield United or Blackburn unlikely. Additionally, Rak-Sakyi boasts a market value of £1.7 million, as per Transfermarkt, but is only available on loan this summer.
In other news, The Star have reported that the Blades will have a deal wrapped up for fullback Sam McCallum by the weekend following his release from Norwich City. McCallum could become the club’s second signing of the summer window.
Writer’s View
Rak-Sakyi’s only experience in the English Football League came during his time on loan at Charlton Athletic during the 2022/23 campaign. The youngster had an excellent season with the Addicks, scoring 15 goals and recording eight assists in 43 matches in League One.
Unfortunately, on return to Crystal Palace, the winger played just eight times in all competitions, including six in the Premier League. He needs a loan move away this summer once more, and Sheffield United could be the perfect club for him to develop further, although going to QPR and Luton seems likelier right now.
Deputy Head of Writing