Sheffield United set to finalise transfer swoop for ex-Man City player | OneFootball

Sheffield United are set to complete the signing of ex-Man City player Jamal Baptiste.

Sheffield United are set to sign former Man City youngster Jamal Baptiste after he impressed during a trial spell with the club last month.

Chris Wilder’s side have had a strong start to the Championship season, with the Blades currently fourth in the table.

However, there are doubts about the squad depth at Bramall Lane, and the group has been tested in recent weeks due to injuries and suspensions.

Sheffield United set to sign Jamal Baptiste

And, it seems they are poised to add a reinforcement defensively, as the Mirror has revealed that they are ‘closing in’ on a deal to sign Baptiste.

The update states that Portsmouth have also been tracking the 20-year-old since he left City in the summer, but he has most recently linked up with Sheffield United.

He has seemingly done enough to impress, as the report states a deal is now at an advanced stage, and he is set to reach an agreement with the Blades that will see Baptiste immediately become part of Wilder’s squad.

As he is a free agent, the youngster can be registered outside of the window, so he will be available for selection once the deal has been sorted.

Jamal Baptiste’s career so far

Baptiste is not a name that many Sheffield United fans will be familiar with, but he does have good pedigree as a youngster.

The Londoner came through the ranks at West Ham, having joined the Hammers as a kid, and he would progress through the ranks, eventually making a few appearances for the first-team in cup competitions.

However, he opted to leave for Man City in the summer of 2023, when he was loaned to Lommel, but he made just three appearances for the Belgian side in the first half of the campaign.

Seeking first-team football, Baptiste departed the Premier League champions earlier this year, and he had been weighing up his options, with Pompey and Sheffield United among the clubs that had been tracking the defender.

Sheffield United’s staff must be trusted on Jamal Baptiste transfer

The good thing about this deal is that Baptiste has been training with the Blades, so the staff have had the chance to see him close up on a daily basis.

Therefore, if the club wants to offer him a contract on the back of that, the staff’s judgement needs to be trusted, and they clearly think he can do a job.

As mentioned, the Blades are flying high this season, and that has been built on a solid defensive unit, with Harry Souttar and Anel Ahmedhodzic a pretty formidable partnership at this level.

But, there is a lack of depth behind them, with Jack Robinson the only real senior replacement, and he is likely to step in as Ahmedhodzic is suspended this weekend.

So, it’s an area they need to strengthen, and Baptiste could prove to be a useful addition to the squad this season, and he is obviously a player who will look to improve and develop in the years to come.