Sheffield United 2024/25 End of Season Review: Transfer Regrets, Loan Summary & Which Players to Target This Summer! | OneFootball

It’s been a few days since the 2-1 Championship play-off final loss to Sunderland, and to be honest, I’m still in absolute disbelief that Sheffield United managed to lose that game with 15 minutes to go.

The Blades are the only football club in the world that can be 2-0 up and then manage to lose the match 2-1 – that’s how it feels.

Chris Wilder Deserves Huge Credit But Also Some Blame

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 24: Chris Wilder, Manager of Sheffield United, reacts during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final match between Sheffield United and Sunderland at Wembley Stadium on May 24, 2025 in London, England. This weekend’s EFL play-off matches at Wembley will all kick-off one minute late, to raise awareness for the ‘Every Minute Matters’ campaign, which aims to encourage people to learn CPR. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

What Chris Wilder was able to do last summer in terms of reshaping United’s team, switching to a different system, and most importantly wiping the slate clean from a mentality point of view, I truly don’t think many managers could’ve made those changes last summer and had the same positive effect.

Let’s not forget, there was huge pressure on the players and manager to start fast due to the two-point deduction. Late July last summer, I was nervous about the start of the season mainly because I was thinking “what if we start slow and lose the first few games while we wait for the new players and system to click?” Now, usually I’m not too worried about starting a season slow in August, but when you have -2 points, and you’re coming off an embarrassing season that we had in the Premier League, you do start fearing the worst.

However, Wilder turned the corner with us and we went unbeaten in the league in the first month of the season, and the two-point deduction was quickly forgotten about.

The Blades went on some very good runs throughout the campaign, stringing wins together and clean sheets together at will. In the end, the Blades proved they were better than the rest of the Championship, but were still a fair distance behind Leeds United and Burnley, having lost to them a combined 9-2 on aggregate across four games.

Wilder averaged two points per game, and in all honesty, there were large periods in the season where United certainly didn’t win any style points from their winning performances. The Blades struggled for an identity; the only thing most fans knew was that we looked more capable when Gustavo Hamer and Tyrese Campbell were on the same pitch together. Other than that, we really did struggle to look competent a lot of the time.

It didn’t help that United lost two key players in the spine of their team within a month of each other – Oliver Arblaster and Harry Souttar. With those two in the team, who knows how the season would’ve finished.

The one thing that was consistent however was United’s sure-handed goalkeeper Michael Cooper. What a breath of fresh air he was between the sticks. He was composed on the ball, decision-making was on point, and there were times where he single-handedly kept us in, or won us, games. He helped United keep an astonishing 22 clean sheets. Probably the best keeper I’ve seen the Blades have that’s legitimately ours. The sad thing is, he could end up leaving us after just one season campaign.

Now, the reason I’ve said that Wilder deserves some blame in the title of this segment is because I truly believe he got it wrong in January. The January transfer window seemed decent with the likes of Hamza Choudhury, Rob Holding and Ben Brereton Diaz coming in on loan. But, the £10 million signing of Tom Cannon – who I admitted I didn’t want on December 31st so this isn’t in hindsight – I think it cost us in the long run.

Wilder shoehorned him into the side against Hull City at home, he didn’t look on the same wavelength to anyone, and we were ultimately dysfunctional up top and lost 3-0 to relegation fodder. This seemed to be the story of the game whenever Cannon started.

My issue is, for the price we paid for Cannon, surely we could’ve signed two impact players for a combined £10m to help us get over the line. We had data and visual evidence for months prior to the January transfer window that showed we were better with Campbell up top. So why not sign a backup with the same player profile? Especially considering we knew he struggled to see out games.

Contract Situations

Rhian Brewster celebrating his goal against Sheffield Wednesday (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club.)

In terms of expiring contracts, the Blades are in a good spot this summer with only Jack Robinson and Rhian Brewster’s contract up. Robinson, who was the club captain, had up and down spells in the season just gone. I think most fans are in agreement that the Blades can improve on him depending on our budget. He did however automatically trigger a one-year contract extension after playing over 25 games in the season just gone.

This gives us the option of having him as the back-up left-sided centre-back on the bench because of his experience and his ability to play in a back three, which is always a nice option to have if you’re under the cosh.

Brewster had a career-best season for United, netting four goals and serving up three assists, and this was because he stayed relatively injury-free. He showed his versatility by playing as a lone striker, a number ten, and also as a wide playmaker on the right. It’s a huge risk to give him a new deal because you’re basing it on him remaining injury-free. If it works financially, I would look at giving him a new two-year deal which is heavily incentive based.

Player Loans

DERBY, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 01: Harry Clarke of Sheffield United celebrates with teammates Anel Ahmedhodzic and Hamza Choudhury following the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County FC and Sheffield United FC at Pride Park on February 01, 2025 in Derby, England. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)

Alfie Gilchrist will head back to Chelsea after a disappointing loan spell. The 21-year-old featured 30 times in the Championship, with most of these appearances coming in the first half of the campaign. Injuries denied him a chance to kick on in the second half of the season, so it remains to be seen whether or not he did make any progress.

When we signed him, I described him as an in-between player, a term meaning: he isn’t physical enough to be a central defender, but he’s not technically sound enough or athletic enough to be a right-back. Right sided centre-back in a three is probably his best position. I wouldn’t have him back, if I’m being honest.

Rob Holding arrived on loan from Crystal Palace in January. Some fans thought he’d come straight in and be first-choice, which I thought was bizarre considering he had barely any match sharpness. In the end, he featured ten times for the Blades and kept just the one clean sheet. I doubt he’d be financially in reach for us, but even if he was I don’t think I’d sign him.

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, for some reason, divided opinions. I’m not sure why because he clearly has all the talent and explosiveness to be the next Wilfried Zaha. He just needs to learn when to cross it and when to shoot. If he mixes in going down the outside of his man more often then he will be very hard to stop because he has all the pace, balance and agility in the world. He won’t be coming back to us.

Ben Brereton Diaz scored four goals and made three assists in 17 appearances during another short loan spell with the Blades. I actually think performance-wise he was much better in the Premier League than he was in the Championship. Part of this is because he played on the left as an inverted winger in his first spell, as opposed to starting on the right a bunch of times, which I actually thought hurt us more than it helped us. United have a buy option, but I wouldn’t touch it personally.

Hamza Choudhury featured at both holding midfielder and right-back for United down the stretch, and he actually looked much better at right-back than he did through the middle. This is partly because when he was in a double pivot, he was paired with Vinicius Souza, and both of them are quite similar players. So we lacked any real progression from them. I loved seeing his aggression and willingness to get first contact on everything. If the buy option is just a few million, I would sign him permanently because he gives us that defensive right-back option and a holding midfielder option.

Harry Souttar was immense for United, helping to keep 13 clean sheets in his 20 starts. He showed leadership qualities at the back and won first contact on ever aerial duel. He was also surprisingly agile and quick for his gigantic frame. It’s rumoured that he will likely be back to full fitness come October time. If he returns to the form he showed with the Blades then Leicester City will have a very good centre-back on their hands for the back end of the 25/26 term.

Harry Clarke had a loan spell to forget, making just six starts before heading back to Ipswich Town following his season-ending injury. Clarke was very good in Ipswich’s promotion-winning season, using his athleticism to bomb up and down the right flank. Therefore, they will probably keep him around now they are relegated back to the Championship.

Potential Sales

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Vinicius Souza and Gustavo Hamer of Sheffield United celebrate after the team’s victory in the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United FC and Sheffield Wednesday FC at Bramall Lane on November 10, 2024 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

The transfer rumours are already circulating with Gustavo Hamer and Vinicius Souza being linked with moves to the Premier League this summer. We knew this would be the case had Sheffield United failed to go up.

In reality, it probably is for the best that we sell now. They’re both coming off very good seasons individually. They’re both still at a decent age. And they both have two years left on the deal. We do not want to have another Sander Berge or Iliman Ndiaye situation on our hands again where we lose our best assets for peanuts.

If the Blades can get a combined £50 million for them then I’ll be happy knowing that this alone should give us a very strong budget to build again.

I’d also like to see the Blades part ways with Anel Ahmedhodzic. He is in the final year of his deal, so it’s either sell or renew. My thinking is: the Bosnian has had two consecutive negative endings to his season’s with United. Firstly being part of that humiliating relegation from the Premier League, and secondly losing in the play-off final with a few minutes to spare. For all parties, I think it’d be for the best to go our separate ways this summer.

Michael Cooper will have plenty of Premier League interest this summer, and I fear that someone like Leeds United could come in with an offer that we simply cannot refuse. In reality, even with new owners, a transfer bid north of £30 million would be tough for a Championship club to turn down. But, we must realise that Cooper is the best goalkeeper out there, and he gives us a better shot at winning promotion in 2025/26 more than the extra millions in the bank does, because that position is very difficult to fill.

Signings Sheffield United Should Look to Make

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 21: Oliver McBurnie of Sheffield United prepares to take a penalty during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Manchester United at Bramall Lane on October 21, 2023 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Hamza Choudhury ‐ RB/DM

I touched on it previously, but I would definitely look at signing Hamza Choudhury permanently if the price is right. He is versatile, gives us that two positions in one player, which is huge in the Championship. And he is a durable player, again another benefit in the Championship.

Michael Keane – LCB/RCB

Sheffield United need physically imposing centre-backs this summer. While Michael Keane is getting on a bit at 32, he is that physically imposing defender. He did start 11 Premier League games in the season just gone, keeping three clean sheets and also scoring three goals – a great goal ratio for a central defender. He is a free agent this summer and will probably have a few clubs in for him, like maybe a return to Burnley for example. If United are in with a chance, I’d look at giving him a one-year deal with a further one-year option.

Oli McBurnie – Target Man

A bit of exclusive news to report here. I’m fairly confident that Oli McBurnie will be heading back to Bramall Lane this summer. I understand that a couple of La Liga teams have looked at the 28-year-old, one of which is Getafe. But the feeling is that he wants to return to England. Hull City have been linked with him, however they will not be able to match the wages that the Blades are willing to offer him.

McBurnie scored three times and made six assists in 20 starts for Las Palmas in La Liga, but he suffered another relegation on his CV.

The Blades need another physical presence up top, and McBurnie offers that same profile up top to Kieffer Moore, but more technically sound than the Welshman.

Outside of these three physical battlers, I’d be looking at pace and flair to go on the wings, preferably two for each side, unless Christian Nwachukwu has shown us something at Shirecliffe.

Ilias Chair – No.10/LW

One of those that I’d be looking at if Hamer is leaving this summer is someone like Ilias Chair from Queens Park Rangers, who is quite similar to him given that he is a natural attacking midfielder that also features as an inverted left-winger. The biggest issue with the Moroccan is that he’s coming off of one of his worst seasons in terms of fitness, having featured 28 times. Prior to this season, he played 41+ times in five straight campaigns. So you’d suspect this is a one-off. It’s also the first time in six years where he has failed to get over ten goals and assists combined (two goals and six assists this time around).

All stats taken from FBref.