Liverpool Duo on Sheffield United’s Radar | OneFootball

If you thought the transfer rumours were over last week for Sheffield United. Think again. The Blades won’t let something like Deadline Day get in the way of another productive day for the rumour mill. At least that’s according to reports from the Mail Online that state the Blades have two long-term targets on Merseyside.

One we have been aware of for some time. During the liberation of Tom Cannon from having to do it on cold rainy nights in Stoke. The Blades were also linked with another Stoke loanee, Lewis Koumas. Although, thankfully from a Potters perspective, the Blades didn’t return twice.

The other is the current Blackburn loanee, Owen Beck. With both players proving themselves at Championship level this season, it is suggested the Blades would like them both if a Premier League return is secured by the end of the season.

But with this speculation, as always, who are they?

Owen Beck

(Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Beck, 22, is a left-back, who joined Liverpool’s academy in 2015. Although, rather weirdly, spent time with Stoke City beforehand. Can someone tell our scouting team that there’s more to England than the greater Stoke-on-Trent area? We’ll be signing Robbie Williams next.

The Wrexham-born left-back signed his first professional contract with Liverpool in June 2020 and managed improved terms by November of the same year. Before signing a long-term contract in July 2021.

Similarly to Rhian Brewster, his time at Liverpool, has made Beck quite decorated for a young player. With an EFL Cup and an FA Cup to his name from 2021-2022. Up until now though, he has spent much of his time out on loan.

Bolton via Famalicao

On 11 July 2022, Beck moved to Portugal to play for Famalicao on loan. Only he didn’t play and by the end of August, he was sent on loan to Bolton instead.

It was all good though. Beck was reunited with what Bolton’s media team called his ‘best pal’ in Liverpool’s Conor Bradley as the two young full-backs took on League One together.

Beck made a total of nine appearances for the Wanderers in 2022-2023 making two starts in the league. Only playing 191 minutes in total. Likely due to his lack of play time the loan ended on 26 January 2023.

North of the Border

In Summer 2023, Beck joined Scottish Premiership side Dundee FC on loan. The loan saw Beck score his first ever career goal against Hibernian in a November defeat to Nick Montgomery’s Hibs.

In total, Beck made 25 league appearances for Dundee, as well as three in the League Cup. In that time he managed two goals and four assists. Strangely on 1 January 2024, Liverpool recalled Beck due to a left-back injury crisis. Leading him to make his Premier League debut as a substitute against Bournemouth.

Only for Beck to be sent back to Dundee FC on 30 January 2024, as he couldn’t move elsewhere having now played for two sides in the same season.

In March, Beck returned back to Liverpool, this time due to a persistent groin injury which ended his 2023-2024 season.

Despite this, Beck’s impressive displays saw him named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year as left-back in an otherwise Old Firm dominated defence.

This season on loan at Blackburn

Beck has played 23 times for Blackburn in the Championship this season. Adding another goal to his career tally after his two in Scotland.

He has started 20 Championship games and has increased his playing time since his last EFL spell playing 1860 minutes.

Beck’s best stats are his passing and dribbling. He has an expected assists of 2.64 despite not registering one this season. Proving he is creating chances (19) only for his Blackburn teammates to scupper them. He has completed 21 successful crosses and sits in the 77th percentile for cross accuracy.

In terms of his dribbling and in possession, Beck is in the 90th percentile for Championship left-backs for successful dribbles (22). As well as being in the 85th percentile for touches in the opposition box (44) suggesting he is a full-back who likes to be involved in attacks.

Defensively, Beck is good in the tackle with his tackles won (38) placing him among the better tackling Championship left-backs. He wins a lot of duels (109) although his percentage won is 49.3% suggesting he loves a duel but struggles to win most of them. Although, with age and more playing time he may improve. His aerial duels are an area to improve winning just 11 and a percentage won of 26.8%.

Ultimately, Beck seems very good on the ball and determined defensively, which is a good sign for his overall development.

Comparison to Burrows

Firstly, this feels harsh given Burrows is arguably the best left-back in the league. But if Beck is to make it at the Lane he will have to give Harrison competition.

Attacking-wise you aren’t going to find many Championship left-backs better than Harrison Burrows statistically. It is unsurprising then that the only place where Beck beats Burrows per 90 is successful dribbles. Beck makes 1.06 while Burrows is only at 0.50.

It is weirdly defensively, where Beck turns the tables on Burrows otherwise statistical clean sweep. Both clearly capable going forward, Beck offers better defensive data.

Beck’s successful tackles per 90 (1.84) beats Burrows’ 1.57 per 90. Whilst, Beck’s clearances per 90 (2.90), headed clearances per 90 (1.35) and interceptions per 90 (0.92) are all better than Burrows. Although, Beck’s clearances per 90 (2.90) is considerably higher than Burrows’ two per 90, with the others relatively close.

Burrows as the attacking full-back that he is comes out on top with possession won in the final third with 0.84 to Beck’s 0.19.

Therefore, for now Burrows is still the obvious pick, but Beck would offer good competition for Burrows if he joined.

Family Ties

A fun fact to finish the report is that Beck is the great nephew of former Blades forward Ian Rush. Who may have also played and scored some goals for Liverpool, who’s to say?

Lewis Koumas

We have already covered Koumas when he was linked with Cannon in January. But here is a recap given the recent rumour.

Welsh international, Koumas, 19, is currently enjoying his first career loan spell at Stoke. Before becoming a temporary Potter, Koumas signed a new long-term detail with the Merseyside club.

Since 8 January 2025, when I last wrote about Koumas, the young winger has stepped up for the Potters in Cannon’s absence. Recently getting an assist away at Hull City in the Championship. Plus, a brace against Cardiff City in the FA Cup, only for the Bluebirds to knock him out of the cup on penalties. With Koumas taken off before the shootout their wasn’t much he could do.

His recent form has seen Koumas bring his season total to 35 games in all competitions registering six goals and three assists.

How does Koumas compare to Brooks and Rak-Sakyi?

Whilst Koumas has spent most of his time on the left-side comparing him to out-of-position but Championship elite Gustavo Hamer may be a tad unfair and slightly pointless. Especially, if Gus returns to a central position next season. Whilst comparisons to Ben Brereton-Diaz’s handful of appearances doesn’t make for a like-for-like comparison.

But, Koumas has the ability to play across the front, on the left, right or down the middle. So, why not comparing to Blades’ ever-present Andre Brooks and the loanee he could be replacing Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

Koumas vs. Rak-Sakyi

The only attacking stat Koumas bests Rak-Sakyi at is his shots taken. With Koumas having taken 27 to Rak-Sakyi’s 19. Although, Rak-Sakyi has a better shot accuracy at 53% to Koumas’ 44%.

Rak-Sakyi also has two more goals than Koumas in 700 less Championship minutes. Although, it should be acknowledged at least minimally, that Rak-Sakyi is playing for a side running for promotion. No disrespect to Stoke but it is likely that Rak-Sakyi is getting better opportunities to get into goalscoring positions playing in a side higher up the table.

Koumas’ main stats that are better than Rak-Sakyi are his successful tackles per 90 (1.17) and possession won in final third per 90 (0.70). Compared to Rak-Sakyi’s 1.10 and 0.44 per 90 respectively.

Ultimately, Rak-Sakyi is having the better season although two things need to be considered. One, Rak-Sakyi is in his fourth season as a pro and second with regular playing time compared to Koumas, who is in his first season. Plus, Koumas may not have to get past Rak-Sakyi come the summer.

Koumas vs. Brooks

A player Koumas will have to compete with if he arrives at Bramall Lane this summer is Andre Brooks. Brooks has played over twice as less minutes than Koumas this season leading to Koumas having the slightly better output numbers.

Although, when you break the stats down per 90 Brooks has had the better matches across the board. Brooks better shot accuracy (67%) has allowed the Blades midfielder to score twice in the Championship keeping up with Koumas’ three.

Brook’s accurate passes per 90 (20.7) are more than double Koumas’ 8.96 accurate passes per 90. Whilst, Brooks completes almost twice as many successful dribbles per 90 at 2.24 compared to Koumas’ 1.17. This suggests Brooks is more effective in helping United build attacks than Koumas is for Stoke.

Defensively, Brooks is also statistically better although most of these are marginal differences. His possession won in the final 3rd per 90 of 0.85 suggests he is enabling the Blades stay on the front foot slightly better than Koumas (0.70) is for Stoke.

The caveat to Brooks’ better stats is the lack of game time as if he had played 29 games like Koumas his per 90 would likely level out closer to Koumas’. However, Brooks’ significantly better stats would still be above that of Koumas’. Plus, with the caveat of extra game time for Brooks comes the likelihood in an improvement in his output. Brooks currently has a better expected assists than Koumas and whilst he has a lower expected goals by almost half. Brooks output is currently slightly underperforming his expected.

Ultimately, a second season Koumas, next season would be a good back-up to Brooks providing him with competition for the right-wing shirt.

Takeaways

Ultimately, both players would make for interesting signings should the Blades gain promotion this season.

Personally, Beck appears the more promising of the two if he’s expected to come into a Premier League squad and fight it out with Burrows. Due to his greater experience in football and his proven record for Dundee and Blackburn with the Premier League a natural next step.

In terms of Koumas, if he can carry on his recent form for Stoke, he could finish his first professional season promisingly. He could also be a good option if a return for Rak-Sakyi becomes impossible. The issue and positive with Koumas is his inexperience. On the one hand, he isn’t statistically as strong as the Blades current wide-forward options. Although, at just 19, impressing for mid-table Stoke side suggests he could be a valuable asset in years to come. One where if the deal is right could be worth a go in the summer before he develops out of reach.