Sheffield United are in a battle to keep hold of star player Ollie Arblaster as three top-flight sides have reportedly shown interest for the academy graduate.
The 20-year-old emerged last season as a first-team option for The Blades as they dropped out of the Premier League, and has started both games for Chris Wilder’s side this season. He scored United’s opening goal of this campaign away to Preston North End, playing every minute possible for his side so far.
According to the Daily Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, Brentford, Ipswich Town and Southampton are monitoring a move for the midfielder, but have yet to submit a bid to the Bramall Lane club. Reports from the paper earlier in May also linked Arblaster to Aston Villa and West Ham United.
Born in Sheffield, the Blades’ number thirty emerged through the club’s youth system with loans to Bradford Park Avenue and later to Port Vale, where he made 26 appearances before returning at the start of 2024 to become a regular in the senior side. Following his debut in the 6-0 loss against Arsenal, Arblaster made 11 starts before the end of the season.
With injuries hampering the Sheffield United lineup, Wilder named the 20-year-old the captain against Manchester United in April, and showed his admiration following the game. He said (Quotes via Yorkshire Post): “He’s the type of player this football club has produced in the past, will continue to produce and one we’re delighted to have.
“We’ve seen him in training, the way he acts and goes about his business and the way he’s played previously.
“I still think he might be captain and we build around him. His performances have been incredibly consistent at the highest level.”
Whilst Jack Robinson has since returned to take the armband for the South Yorkshire side, Arblaster has still been an important figure in the squad since his emergence at the Emirates.
Ipswich Town are one of the teams mooted for a deal for the midfielder, fresh from their opening game in the Premier League against Liverpool. Wes Burns was subbed off due to injury during the game, but have recently strengthened in the middle of the park with Kalvin Phillips and Blackburn Rovers‘ Sammie Szmodics making the matchday squad following their moves to Portman Road.
Southampton have also added depth to their midfield with the loan move for Lesley Ugochukwu and the permanent signing of former Swansea City man Flynn Downes. Brentford are yet to sign a midfielder this summer, and could be set to make a healthy sum with the touted move for Ivan Toney following his omission from the matchday squad yesterday.
Writer’s View
Ollie Arblaster is one of the great young talents the Championship has this year, so it is understandable why Premier League clubs are assessing the 20-year-old. Now is the time to move for the midfielder, as an additional season would likely see clubs having to cough up even more money than the sizable amount needed to pry Arblaster away from Bramall Lane. Should the sale of ex-Peterborough United forward Ivan Toney go through, Brentford could be in the best position to secure his services for next season.
Sheffield United have already put together a side that should see them bounce back to the top flight after one season away, but losing Arblaster could put a big spanner in the works of those dreams. Rumours have also suggested Gus Hamer could depart too and if these moves happen Chris Wilder would need to find first-team starting midfielders in the next two weeks or be left very short in the middle of the park until January.
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