After losing to Sunderland in the Championship play-off final, Sheffield United has been active during the summer transfer window thus far.
After Sunderland defeated Sheffield United 2-1 at Wembley, the Blades’ season came to an end and they were not promoted to the Premier League.
As Sheffield United looks to improve next season, the club’s management has the chance to bolster Chris Wilder’s team during the summer transfer window.
Birmingham and Sheffield United are awaiting word from Crystal Palace on whether to sign Jesurun Rak-Sakyi this summer. They have also been pursuing play-off final rival Chris Mepham, although Burnley may outbid them.
According to reports, the Blades have now found a young target in the top division of Bulgaria.
Sheffield United is pursuing Ehije Ukaki, a “special” Bulgarian top flight prospect.
Since the new ownership group took over at Bramall Lane, there has been much discussion over Sheffield United’s hiring practices during the previous season.
The Star says that Sheffield United’s new owners have identified their next addition in Nigerian kid Ehije Ukaki. The owners are adamant about using an AI-driven data platform to scout and secure young future talents in European sport.
With seven goals in 34 league games and two appearances in the Europa League and Conference League, the 20-year-old had an outstanding debut season with Bulgaria’s top division team, Botev Plovdiv.
The highlight of Nigerian Ukaki’s season was winning a derby match against Lokomotiv Plovdiv.
Regarding Sheffield United’s objective this season, Botev Plovdiv head coach Dusan Kerkez stated: “(Ehije) Ukaki is a special talent.”
The Nigerian will follow in the footsteps of Christian Nwachukwu, a mid-season addition and fellow countryman who joined the Blades from Botev Plovdiv in February, if the Blades’ interest in Ukaki turns into an offer.
However, because of visa and fitness worries, the 19-year-old winger has not made his Sheffield United debut.
It would seem that the Blades are further up their use of the data-driven recruiting approach, which Wilder has expressed some reservations about in recent months, by acquiring another unidentified company to Sheffield United supporters.
Sheffield United’s 24/25 hiring demonstrated the Blades’ desire for change.
Christian joins the club after being identified through our new data-driven transfer strategy, Wilder said SUFC.co.uk upon Nwachukwu’s arrival in February.
We are learning something new here, and while it could take some time before we see some benefits, we are receptive to the new approaches and want to collaborate with Christian and others to see how far we can push them.
The data-driven approach can only help the Blades succeed in the future, even though the young Nigerian hasn’t made his first-team debut. It’s evident that recruiting well-known second-tier players doesn’t ensure success.
Tom Cannon, a striker who ended his loan at Stoke City to join thevwho are vying for promotion, cost Sheffield United an incredible £10 million this season.
While on loan at the Potters, Cannon scored nine goals in 22 Championship games; but, after moving to Bramall Lane in the middle of the season, the 22-year-old has only scored one league goal in 17 games under Wilder.
The team reaffirmed its intention to stick with its data-driven hiring strategy following its defeat to Sunderland in the play-off final, saying, “We will do this by using data and analytics far more effectively to recruit the best and brightest talent.”
As the young players, maybe including Ukaki, get used to life at the Blades, Wilder may need to be patient, but the team cannot afford to keep paying eight-figure payments for attackers who only manage to score once.
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