Sheffield United have begun the new Championship season in dismal form under new boss Ruben Selles, and will be looking to utilise the market as much as possible before the end of the window.
Former Reading and Hull City manager Selles would have hoped for a better start at Bramall Lane, having lost their first four games of the season, including all three Championship games. The Blades fired former manager Chris Wilder this summer after being barely defeated by Sunderland in the play-off final last season, despite the Englishman’s 90 league points.
The club has recently gone along an AI-driven recruitment strategy, bringing in the likes of Ehije Ukaki, Mihail Polendakov and Christian Nwachukwu from the Bulgarian top flight, whereas Djibril Soumare and Nils Zatterstrom have joined the team from Braga and Malmo, respectively. This so far has not paid rewards, and with the Blades having lost the likes of Vinicius Souza, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Kieffer Moore from last season, more work must be done in the window if they are to truly find gear this campaign.
Football League World has identified two realistic prospective transfer targets that the Blades should pursue before the market closes to improve their faltering squad.
Harrison Reed
Reed, 30, joined the Cottagers in the summer of 2020 from Southampton, where he had a successful loan spell in the Championship the previous season, during which the club was promoted. Over the next few seasons, the English midfielder established himself as a regular in west London, although his playing time has decreased in recent seasons as Sasa Lukic and Sander Berge have joined the club. Reed played only 12 Premier League games for the club last season, totaling 98 minutes of league action, the fewest in his career since the 2016/17 season at Southampton.
He has been an unused replacement in all of Fulham’s initial Premier League games, with Marco Silva presumably preferring the aforementioned Lukic and Berge over Reed. Following Vini Souza’s departure, Sheffield United’s opening few games have revealed a lack of a natural defensive midfielder capable of efficiently screening the back line, but Reed is one such player. Djibril Soumare joined on loan from Sporting Braga earlier this summer, but Reed brings Championship experience – and a promotion-winning one.
Reed, who is still under contract until 2027 with an option for another year, could be available for a low price before the conclusion of the window if Fulham decide to sell him, and Sheffield United should keep an eye out for Reed as a potential Souza replacement.
Manuel Benson
Benson, a Belgian winger, has fallen out of favour with Scott Parker at Burnley, appearing in neither of the club’s Premier League matchday squads this season. Benson, who was signed from Pro League team Royal Antwerp in the summer of 2022 by then-manager Vincent Kompany, had a good debut season in England, scoring 11 goals and assisting three more in 33 league games as the Clarets won the Championship. Benson missed the most of the following season due to injuries, making only eight Premier League appearances as Burnley were relegated at the first attempt.
Last season did not go well for the 28-year-old, who missed much of the season due to an achilles tendon injury, making only five appearances across all competitions. Now back in the Premier League, Benson is unlikely to be promised minutes in the top division, therefore a permanent or loan move might be on the cards. Sheffield United have already signed Tyler Bindon, Louie Barry, and Soumare on loan, so they will need to be careful not to exceed the five-player loan maximum in a matchday squad if Benson joins on a short basis.
Benson’s contract at Turf Moor expires in 2027, so a loan transfer to Sheffield United may provide him with much-needed game time while also competing with Tom Cannon and Andre Brooks, who have been utilized off Benson’s preferred right side.
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