"Risky" - Reaction given as Norwich City star looks set to join Sheffield United | OneFootball

Sam McCallum looks set to join Sheffield United after his Norwich City contract was not renewed

According to The Star, Norwich City full-back Sam McCallum is set to join Championship rivals Sheffield United on a free transfer upon the expiration of his current contract this weekend.

McCallum, then 19, initially joined the Canaries in a £3.5m swoop from Coventry City in January 2020, agreeing a four-and-a-half year contract before immediately embarking on two loan spells back to the West Midlands.

He appeared in 52 league outings for Norwich, all of which came in his final two seasons under contract with the club.

McCallum played a bit-part role in Norwich's run to the Championship play-off semi-finals - which was curtailed in a humiliating 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Leeds United - by making 29 appearances, 16 of which were starts amid competition from fellow out-of-contract left-back Dimitros Giannoulis.

However, with both parties failing to strike fresh terms, it's now believed that the 23-year-old is set to arrive as Chris Wilder's first signing of the summer transfer window, with the Blades also closing in on a deal for Leeds United's Jamie Shackleton.

Norwich City's

The South Yorkshire outfit fought off stiff competition to bring McCallum to Brammall Lane, with previous reports suggesting that a move to Steven Schumacher's Stoke City was imminent.

There had been initial doubts over United's ability to broker a deal in light of their ongoing takeover talks, but McCallum's arrival as a free agent works for them.

It is a move, however, that has left Football League World's Canaries fan pundit Zeke Downes with more questions than answers.

"I was thinking that McCallum would be signing for Stoke, that's what it looked like anyway," Zeke told Football League World.

"So I'm not sure how it's now gone to Sheffield United, it could be a risky move because I think they are on a bit of a downfall.

"I can see them losing their main players and they've not really got the squad, especially compared to other teams in the league so I think it's a good move for them, I'm not sure it's a good move for him.

"But it could go well, you never know with the Championship."

Norwich City will be frustrated to lose Sam McCallum on a free transfer to Sheffield United

Although there is a feeling that McCallum didn't really live up to his hype at Carrow Road, supporters will nonetheless be frustrated to lose his services for nothing, a feeling which will be heightened further given that the exact same is happening with Giannoulis.

Losing two players who play the same position without a fee, and at the same time, is undoubtedly a blow which Norwich must remedy if they intend on challenging for promotion to the Premier League once again next term.

Realistically, they should be able to source ample replacements for the duo, but McCallum in particular was a handy squad player who could have collected a fair fee given his age and profile.

His profile is one that may well benefit United, potentially at Norwich's expense, when you consider that Wilder demands dynamic attacking width from his wing-backs - which McCallum can supply in abundance.