Sheffield United will be on the market for attacking reinforcements this summer. Chris Wilder could be preparing to bring Oli McBurnie back to Bramall Lane this summer as reports emerge of rising interest in the free agency striker.
McBurnie just joined Spanish club Las Palmas last year when his Blades contract expired, but he is poised to transfer again following their relegation to the second division. The 28-year-old signed a three-year deal in Spain that included a relegation clause, effectively terminating the remainder of his contract once a bottom-three La Liga position was established.
United sold a large number of first-team players following their own relegation last summer, but Wilder preferred to keep McBurnie, who had scored 29 goals in five years at Bramall Lane. The continuing takeover problem prevented a contract extension from being signed, but with the former Blades striker now available, Alan Nixon reports on interest from South Yorkshire.
According to the well-known EFL journalist’s Patreon page, United is one of three Championship clubs interested in signing McBurnie this summer, with Hull City and another previous club Swansea City. However, La Liga club Celta Vigo is reported to be interested in keeping the Scotland international in Spain, as they can offer Europa League football following their seventh-place finish.
Oli McBurnie transfer is the latest as fresh Sheffield United links emerge.
Despite Las Palmas having a poor season overall, McBurnie impressed in Spain, scoring three goals and assisting six times in 34 top-flight games. That return appears to have sparked the interest of Celta Vigo officials, who need to add depth to their European campaign, but there is also plenty of intrigue closer to home.
“We didn’t reach our goal this season and we didn’t manage to stay up, so my contract has gone from three years to up again,” McBurnie told BBC Radio Sheffield last month. “So I’m a free agent. I just need to come home and spend time with my family. It’s been wonderful to be here, but it’s also been difficult to be so far away from my family. I will discuss it with the missus and decide what we want to do.
United are expected to undergo a substantial summer upheaval, so the return of a familiar face would undoubtedly be welcomed by Wilder, who might lose a slew of key players following last month’s play-off final defeat to Sunderland. Gustavo Hamer has previously been linked with moves to Leeds United and Everton, and Vinicius Souza and Anel Ahmedhodzic will also be on the radar.
Regardless, attacking reinforcements will be a top priority at Bramall Lane, with loan players Ben Brereton Diaz and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi returning to Southampton and Crystal Palace, respectively, when their contracts expired. Rhian Brewster’s future is also uncertain, as he is in talks to sign new terms with the Blades after his current contract expires in a few weeks.
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