Sheffield United latest: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain update, Tom Lawrence, Chris Wilder admission | OneFootball

Despite a disastrous single campaign back in the Premier League, the Blades will be recognised by many outsiders as one of the front-runners when it comes to the promotion race in the second tier.

Chris Wilder will oversee a second stint at this level with his boyhood club, having guided them to promotion back in 2019. However, it would be a fair assessment to say that the landscape of the Bramall Lane outfit has dramatically changed over the past five years.

In what is a big week, as the EFL officially opens its summer transfer window on Friday, Football League World provides you with the latest news concerning the red half of the Steel City.

Sheffield United plot potential move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

It has been reported by Turkish news outlet Sabah that the Blades are interested in acquiring the services of former Liverpool, Arsenal and England midfielder, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The 30-year-old is currently of Besiktas, having moved to Istanbul just last August following his departure from Anfield, signing a three-year deal in the process.

However, this report claims that the hierarchy at the Süper Lig outfit have no intention of making Oxlade-Chamberlain part of their plans moving forward, with United said to be interested in a potential swoop, although no potential fee has been mooted.

The 35-time England international made 30 appearances for the 'Black Eagles' last term, scoring four times in a season blighted by injury.

Sheffield United join Ipswich Town in race for former Derby County winger

Furthermore, it has been reported by the Scottish Daily Mirror Paper Edition (10/06/24, page 67) that Rangers winger Tom Lawrence is on the radar of the freshly-relegated outfit.

The report claims that United have been joined by Ipswich Town in the race to pursue his signature, with Kieran McKenna looking to add further quality as the Tractor Boys embark on their first Premier League campaign in 22 years.

Lawrence, who joined the Light Blues after Derby County's relegation to League One in 2022, has previous experience of playing at Portman Road, having donned the Ipswich jersey 36 times in the 2016/17 season, accumulating a remarkable 11 goals and assists in equal measure.

However, the aforementioned Besiktas are also said to be keen on signing Lawrence, who has featured just 41 times for the SPFL outfit across two seasons as a result of inconsistent form and injury knocks, including a muscle problem last December.

Chris Wilder makes Sheffield United transfer admission

At present, the long-term stewardship of the club is in the air, despite the fact a US-based consortium have submitted their plans to acquire the Blades in a deal said to be north of €100m, which, as a minimum, would see current owner Prince Abdullah relinquish the majority of his control in the Bramall Lane boardroom.

Prince Abdullah is said to be actively working with global firm, Lazard, to ensure as smooth a process as possible, after previous takeovers such as a reported £115m bid from Nigerian Dozy Mmobuosi last November broke down, whilst the aforementioned new consortium will have to detail their plans to the EFL.

This comes at a time when Wilder is in the process of rebuilding his squad, with reports already claiming that Anel Ahmedhodzic, Vinicius Souza, Anis Slimane and Benie Traore, alongside Croatian goalkeeper Ivo Grbic, will be allowed to depart over the window.

The ongoing transfer saga has had an effect on the potential whereabouts of Ben Osborn, who was due to see a one-year extension in his contract activated, before reversing the decision as they await clarity on the ownership front, as per Alan Nixon, who also stated that Watford and Derby County are keen to acquire Osborn's services on a free transfer in the meantime.

Despite the aforementioned links to some high-profile names, Chris Wilder has already laid out his and the club's recruitment team's plans in the window at present.

“We won't be reckless in our approach, we'll have a price set on certain players. I think the majority of players we bring in will be frees and loans, maybe some small fees in there if we can move and juggle and pull in some money from sales as well. I’m working closely with the board and chief exec on that, and we have a plan," the 56-year-old said via the Sheffield Star.

Sheffield United handed blow in pursuit of former Brighton midfielder

Given Wilder's comments, it was perhaps no surprise to see a link emerge between the Blades and free agent midfielder, Steven Alzate, recently released by Brighton and Hove Albion.

Reports recently emerged via Colombian news outlet AS, that Alzate was on the club's radar alongside Turkish Süper Lig outfit Trabzonspor, given his availability on a free transfer.

However, it has since been revealed by Turkish news outlet Fotomac that Trabzonspor have made a contract offer to pursue the 24-year-old, with interest in him dating back to a report by Fanatik on April 29th.