Sheffield United’s Squad as January Window Closes | OneFootball

As Sheffield United’s January transfer windows and Deadline Days go. Yesterday was frantic, exciting and seemingly positive.

Pre-deadline day deals for Ben Brereton-Diaz, Tom Cannon, Hamza Choudhury, and Harry Clarke have left the Blades with a stronger squad. Plus, yesterday’s moves have seen the total arrivals rise to seven. Rob Holding, Christian Nwachukwu, and Jefferson Cáceres kept Blades awake until just after the deadline.

Also, the additions have allowed the Blades to loan out young stars Louie Marsh and Owen Hampson. With Marsh joining Fleetwood Town and Hampson joining Dunfermline. Sam Curtis switched his loan from Peterborough for Scottish side St Johnstone.

Plus, outside of deadline day Ismaila Coulibaly and Anis Ben Slimane completed permanent deals away. So, where does that leave the Blades squad now?

Goalkeepers

The one part of the pitch left entirely untouched. Michael Cooper remains the Blades’ number one. After his impressive 16 Championship clean sheets so far, there was no need for any new players between the sticks.

Whilst, Adam Davies and the young Luke Faxon are competent deputies waiting on the bench.

Defenders

Left-back

Similarly to goalkeeper, left-back was another position that didn’t need any work. Harrison Burrows has proven to be one of the Championship’s best signings of the season. The young left-back is great defensively and has bagged five goals.

Equally, Sam McCallum has been one of the Blades better bench options. He has been reliable when starting or coming on for Burrows. Plus, his goal against Hull City away announced himself as a great squad player.

Additionally, the Blades have got Rhys Norrington-Davies as a third-choice should the Blades be without both.

Centre-back

Arguably, the most important signing needed in January alongside a defensive midfielder. The Blades finally got the deal done on Deadline Day. Based on rumours it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Jimmy Dunne, Michael Keane, Japhet Tanganga all looked to be potential options. Before the Blades landed on experienced Premier League defender Rob Holding.

Holding has yet to play this season, which is a concern, but if he can get up to speed he can be a great asset. Whilst, also reducing the pressure on current starters Jack Robinson and Anel Ahmedhodzic. The main downside of his signing is the loan aspect of the deal. As the Blades now have six loanees but only five can be in the matchday squad. It will be interesting to see how Wilder manages this.

Outside of the starters. The Blades have Jamal Baptiste and Alfie Gilchrist available as centre-back options. Plus, new right-back signing Harry Clarke can also play at centre-back if necessary.

Ultimately, Rob Holding is a good signing but have the Blades replaced Souttar’s hole in the squad. It remains to be seen. In fairness, there aren’t many Souttar-like players out there and replacing his impact was near impossible.

Right-back

(Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)

After a strong start, recently Alfie Gilchrist has looked less assured on the right of the back four. Always more defensive-minded, Gilchrist may be more suited to playing in the middle something we may see in the remaining months of the season. Either way, hopefully, he can recover his form, after a tricky spell for most in red-and-white.

Meanwhile, Femi Seriki, who has looked electrifying when given an opportunity has struggled for fitness. As a more attack-minded alternative to Gilchrist. The most infuriating part about both is that together they might make the perfect right-back.

Enter Harry Clarke. The on-loan Ipswich player has only played one game. But has likely secured his starting place as right-back for the rest of the season. A strong defensive showing contributing a clean sheet, good aerially (71% aerial duels won), and creating a chance for Rhian Brewster.

Plus, Jamie Shackleton is also in the squad and Hamza Choudhury can play right-back. Meaning by the end of the window, right-back might be the most stocked position in the squad.

Midfielders

Defensive Midfielder

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Similarly to centre-back in the early days of the season, defensive midfielder was a position which was looked at with confidence. Starting with Vini Souza and Ollie Arblaster with Tom Davies and Sydie Peck as quality back-ups the Blades looked strong. However, injuries always came for Sheffield United.

Arblaster ruled out for a long period was a major blow. Only remedied by the exceptional consistency of Tom Davies despite his own long time out. Peck has also been brilliant in what has become his breakthrough season. With Peck and Davies being the perfect pair to deal with the lack of Vini Souza following his injury.

But by January, the amount of games were starting to tell. As such a defensive midfielder was needed. Since the beginning there has been one name. Hamza Choudhury.

Although, there has also been, the Wilder goose chase of Shea Charles, which was seemingly a practical joke aimed at the Owls. The now less outlandish link to South American midfielder Danilo Barbosa. Plus, the emotional but far-off rumour of a Tommy Doyle return.

On 27 January, the Blades finally signed Hamza Choudhury on a loan with an option to buy. Given his previous work with Wilder and his player of the match worthy debut. The Blades have succeeded in adding depth to the area.

Attacking Midfielder

The former Coventry midfield duo, Gus Hamer and Callum O’Hare have the Blades covered as a link between the defence and the forwards.

Plus, the likes of Tom Davies, Rhian Brewster, and Andre Brooks, can help out if needed.

Wingers

After years of wing-backs, it was going to take some time to bring wingers to Bramall Lane. In fairness though January plus summer arrivals seem to have addressed the issue. The pre-January set of Gustavo Hamer, Rhian Brewster, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, and Andre Brooks have been decent. Although it was clear that playing Hamer out of position may be stunting him from a good season to a great one.

So, in comes Ben Brereton Diaz on loan from Southampton. After an impressive spell with the Blades in the Premier League it was a no brainer. Plus, it has only taken two starts for him to get firing in his likely preferred red-and-white. He alone should allow Hamer to play more centrally. But Deadline Day has helped the situation further.

The late additions of Christian Nwachukwu and Jefferson Cáceres have left the Blades in a good place out-wide should the club’s injury luck continue.

Strikers

(Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)

The statement signing of the Blades’ January Window. Apologies again Stoke. Tom Cannon arrived as a new permanent striker for a ‘significant undisclosed fee.” Cannon wearing the shirt number that belonged to McAtee has already got an assist. We now await his first goal for the Blades which hopefully will soon follow.

Additionally, Tyrese Campbell has returned from his injury issues looking as promising as ever. Whilst, Ryan Oné was kept at the club despite interest in taking him on loan. Plus, the ever-improving Rhian Brewster and the option of Brereton-Diaz has seen the Blades repair their forward line.

Takeaways

Firstly, can you remember a more chaotic Deadline Day in Sheffield United history. Regardless of your thoughts on the signings themselves, three players did arrive.

Are there players we were linked with that would have equally been good in this squad? Yes. But are we also stronger now than in December. Yes. With the asterisk of being Souttar-less.

The squad’s depth is better than it was. The Blades have brought in proven Championship and promotion-winning players. Whilst, four of the seven signed have already began breaking into the starting eleven. Plus, a fully-fit Rob Holding will definitely leave Robinson and Ahmedhodzic needing to be at their best.

Also, as a statement of intent for the new owners. The window has been promising. Whilst, it remains to be seen, how effective the reported AI scouting model will be. It’s nothing if not exciting.

The only downside is that four of the players have entered on temporary deals. Although, this can be seen positively. If they are good enough the Blades can look to sign them permanently the summer. Plus with the potential of the Blades playing in either the Championship or the Premier League next season. It allows the Blades to make decisions on players based on which division the club is in by the summer.