Leeds United may rue losing out to Sheffield United in transfer race | OneFootball

Sheffield United won the race to sign Harrison Burrows in the summer to the disappointment of Leeds United

Harrison Burrows was widely regarded as one of the hottest properties in League One, and it was Sheffield United who won the race for his signature over the summer.

Burrows swapped Peterborough for South Yorkshire in a deal that could eventually be worth up to £6m for Posh, but after a fine start to the season, he's proved he's worth every penny of that fee.

The full-back has been a near ever-present for the Blades this season, helping them overcome their two-point deduction to become one of the league's early pace setters.

Burrows is looking good value right now to become a Premier League footballer next season, with Sheffield United taking many by surprise to become one of the leading contenders for promotion.

Their credentials took a huge boost in midweek when they scored twice in stoppage time to secure a win against Bristol City, and Burrows was the man who netted that goal - the latest in a long line of impressive performances he's turned in this season.

There's always a loser in these deals though, and in this case it's Leeds United, whose late interest wasn't enough to bring him to Elland Road.

Burrows has excelled for Sheffield United this season

It's actually two games in a row now that Burrows has struck what's proved to be the winning goal for Sheffield United, as he also opened the scoring in a 2-0 win at Blackburn the game prior.

He's excelled so much in his natural left-back position that it's even forced Chris Wilder to ditch his typical 3-5-2 formation in favour of a back four which accommodates Burrows a lot better.

That's certainly contributed to Sheffield United's success this season as they look much more balanced at the back, as is evidenced by the fact no Championship side has kept more than their nine clean sheets this season.

It's not just in defence where the 22-year-old has excelled though, it's all over the pitch, with his stats backing that up, and if his performances continue the way they're going then it won't be long before he either has top-flight suitors or gets international recognition.

Leeds have missed out on a potential future England international

It doesn't seem out of the realms of possibility to suggest that Leeds have missed out on a future England international in Burrows.

Former Peterborough teammate Peter Kioso claimed as much on Instagram in midweek when he commented on a Sheffield United post saying "England call up soon".

While talk of making the England squad may be a little premature just yet, a shortage of English left backs certainly boosts his chances, and if the Blades do go up and he's playing regular top-flight football, then he could be in the thinking.

That's a real kick in the teeth for Leeds, who could maybe have made a bigger play to land Burrows, particularly as they have a left back issue of their own, with Junior Firpo splitting opinion.

Most Leeds fans would acknowledge that Burrows would've been a better option than Firpo, but that ship has sailed now, meaning it's Sheffield United who'll reap the benefits of Burrows.

That includes his on-field performances, which in turn will bring a healthy profit off the pitch in time, something Leeds must be kicking themselves that they missed out on.