Sheffield United player attracting interest from Spain while Blades admire promising shot-stopper | OneFootball

The goalkeeping conundrum at Sheffield United is one they have to solve correctly this summer. After Wes Foderingham departed to join West Ham United and the club releasing academy graduate Jordan Amissah, the attention now turns to the two remaining senior goalkeepers: Adam Davies and Ivo Grbic.

It has previously been claimed that the Blades have offered Davies a new contract but negotiations have stalled due to prospective takeover. Meanwhile, United are open to selling Croatian goalkeeper Grbic after a disastrous spell with the club at the back end of last season where he conceded 32 goals in ten appearances.

Now, reports from Spain, via Angel Garcia, state that La Liga side Getafe are interested in signing the 28-year-old, along with second tier outfit Levante.

The Blades need to sort out the goalkeeping department urgently and they have quite a few promising shot-stoppers to choose from, but they must be willing to pay decent money for one. Names such as: Carl Rushworth, who impressed on his loan spell at Swansea City from Brighton, Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson has been linked with United, and Plymouth Argyle’s Michael Cooper should be priority for the number one spot.

All three of these goalkeepers have showcased good shot-stopping ability and the composure to play out from the back – something that massively let the Blades down last season, and as such, teams pressed heavily because they weren’t scared of United beating the press.

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – APRIL 20: Michael Cooper of Plymouth Argyle during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle at Bet365 Stadium on April 20, 2024 in Stoke on Trent, England.(Photo by Gary Oakley/Getty Images)

Sheffield United need to find a quality goalkeeper

With the names mentioned above, Rushworth is supposedly keen to stay on the south coast and fight his way into the matchday squad at Brighton. Whilst Sunderland are said to be wanting £15 million for Patterson, Southampton have since been credited with interest. Plymouth’s Michael Cooper has recently rejected a contract extension. Meanwhile, The Star are reporting that the 24-year-old has plenty of admirers at Bramall Lane.

As things stand, it appears that the likeliest player to join the Blades from the above list is Michael Cooper, and he would be the cheaper of the three as well due to his contract set expire in just 12 months time.

Last season Cooper made 19 appearances for Plymouth in a struggling Championship team which narrowly avoided the drop on the final day. He kept six clean sheets in that span. In the campaign prior, in League One, Cooper made 29 appearances where he kept 11 clean sheets before unfortunately suffering a cruciate ligament injury which kept him out of action until a few months into the 2023/24 campaign.

Cooper has all the attributes to become a future Premier League player, but unfortunately for him his ACL injury in 2022/23 hindered his chances of impressing top flight clubs over the last year or so.

Sheffield United must be willing to splash the cash on a talented goalkeeper such as Cooper, who’s contract is set to expire next summer.