"No-brainer" - Sheffield United should submit Leicester City & Plymouth Argyle transfer approaches | OneFootball

FLW writers look at who could be a realistic target for the Blades across the remainder of the window

This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Despite uncertainty off the field, Sheffield United are one club extremely active in the transfer market at this moment in time.

Talks of an American takeover remain ongoing, and according to recent reports, Thomas Page is the man fronting a consortium which is said to be going through the EFL's respective 'Owners and Directors' test which refers to wealth and suitability.

Regardless of the outside noise, Chris Wilder continues to prepare his squad for the upcoming Championship campaign after suffering the most dismal of relegations from the Premier League last term.

The boyhood Blade will be looking to emulate his 2019 promotion at Bramall Lane, although the landscape of the club has drastically changed since, with the loss of many experienced players over the course of this summer.

However, United have started to rectify such blows by making a number of shrewd and eye-catching deals which include the signing of former Coventry City playmaker Callum O'Hare on a free transfer, as well as the acquisitions of Kieffer Moore, Sam McCallum and Jamie Shackleton.

But there are still plenty of areas of the squad which need working on in what remains of the transfer window, with the goalkeepers union being one of those.

At present, United's options between the sticks are Ivo Grbic and the experienced deputy of Adam Davies.

However, the truth of the matter is that the Croatian, who only made a £2.5m move from Atletico Madrid in January has already made his stance clear regarding a return to the Iberian Peninsula, with many Blades fans also left unimpressed by his performances in just nine appearances, where he conceded 25 times - an average of 2.8 goals per game - before being dropped for the final five games of the season.

It was reported in May that Grbic was free to leave the Steel City this summer, which has seen interest from Leganes, Levante and Getafe come his way in recent times, although it remains to be seen whether any of the Spanish sides will press forward in those advancements, with Leganes recently signing Juan Soriano on a three-year contract.

Although the Championship could present the two-cap international with a clean slate in terms of performances, the ideal scenario is for the club to seek a fresh number one of a reasonable age that still has an array of experience to follow suit with Wilder's previously mentioned transfer plans.

Sheffield United should should look to Leicester City or Plymouth Argyle for Ivo Grbic replacement

With that being said, some of Football League World's writers issue their verdict on a realistic signing the Blades could make before the transfer window shuts on Friday, August 30th.

Benedict Ferraby

Given the struggles the Blades had in the Premier League - conceding a record-high of 104 goals - its imperative that Wilder looks for reinforcements between the posts as soon as possible after the recent midfield and forward acquisitions.

All the previous deals made so far this window have brought more and more second tier knowhow to the squad, and with that in mind, Daniel Iversen could be the next shrewd addition in red and white.

Iversen recently played his part in Stoke City's upturn in form towards the end of the season on loan from Leicester, conceding just 1.2 goals per game and keeping seven clean sheets in the process, adding to his steady catalogue of metrics at second tier level, which currently stands at 29 clean sheets across 87 overall appearances.

Reports previously stated that Derby County had been eyeing up a loan move for the 27-year-old Dane, although the Rams would have been paying a large proportion of his wages, which according to estimated figures, stands at £20,000 per week.

However, United should take solace from the fact that the Rams' hunt of Iversen could be over amid the imminent signing of Jacob Widell Zetterström from Djurgårdens IF, and look to make their own pursuit of the Foxes' back-up keeper.

Nonetheless, with the aforementioned Grbic earning an estimated £5,000 per week more than Iversen, it feels like a no-brainer of a signing to bring in someone with proven second tier pedigree over an underwhelming performer who has placed on record his desire to make such a swift exit, especially with the highlighted financial benefits.

There are of course plenty of other names who could be targeted in this area of the pitch, as well as plenty of other positions which need further depth and quality added to if United are to mount a promotion bid, but the acquisition of Iversen at some point would only aid such prospects.

Ben Wignall

Iversen would be a solid addition to the ranks at Bramall Lane, given he has been impressive at both Stoke and Preston North End in recent years, but his distribution is still lacking, and that is a key element to a modern-day goalkeeper.

However, one player who is close to being the finished article in all aspects is Michael Cooper, who is a reported Sheffield United target already and ought to be their number one man when it comes to improving their options in-between the sticks.

For four seasons now, Cooper has been one of Argyle's standouts, and despite two lengthy injuries in the past two seasons, which restricted him to just 48 league outings out of a possible 92, the 24-year-old was able to showcase his talents in the Championship for the very first time in 2023-24.

That has got more scouts noticing, and the news that he has turned down contract offers to extend his Pilgrims deal beyond next summer will no doubt create a transfer scramble at some point in the coming weeks.