“The right call” – Sheffield United looking to secure 29-year-old’s service for 2022/23: The verdict | OneFootball

Icon: Football League World

Football League World

·24 May 2022

“The right call” – Sheffield United looking to secure 29-year-old’s service for 2022/23: The verdict

Article image:“The right call” – Sheffield United looking to secure 29-year-old’s service for 2022/23: The verdict

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…

Sheffield United have confirmed their retained list at the conclusion of the 2021/22 campaign.


OneFootball Videos


A number of players have moved on, including David McGoldrick, Lys Mousset and Luke Freeman. The club have also extended Ben Osborn and Jack Robinson’s deals.

In terms of Adam Davies, the club’s back-up goalkeeper, Sheffield United have offered the 29-year-old the chance to extend his stay at Bramall Lane, despite the fact he’s not featured yet since signing from Stoke City.

That’s largely down to Wes Foderingham’s form and brings us to whether or not Sheffield United are making the right decision looking to keep Davies around.

Our writers discuss:

Marcus Ally

Definitely the right decision, it would be a missed opportunity if Davies leaves the Blades this summer.

Wes Foderingham has had an excellent season between the sticks at Bramall Lane and will continue to be a key player heading into next season.

The competition for places that Davies provides as a backup option has brought the best out of the former Rangers man and that could be diminished if Davies was allowed to leave.

The 29-year-old is a very competent first choice keeper in the second tier, if needed, therefore to have someone of his calibre as a number two, suggests that United are building a squad capable of pushing for promotion next season.

Foderingham enters the final year of his contract next season and so it is smart future planning to extend Davies’ deal, having a strong experienced figure in goal could be important as Paul Heckingbottom continues to integrate younger players into the first team.

Simmey Hannifin Donaldson

Offering fresh terms to Adam Davies is a good move by Sheffield United.

The 29-year-old is an experienced head for a keeper at this point in his career, and showed earlier this season at Stoke City, before joining the Blades, that he is more than capable of stepping in and doing a job at this level.

Not only that, but Davies can also offer genuine competition to Wes Foderingham for the number one role, given that he is unlikely to be fully content with being a back-up having experienced being a first choice goalkeeper at Barnsley earlier in his career.

Having only played a handful of senior games, third-choice keeper Jake Eastwood is likely not ready to step in at Championship level just yet if needed, so that, combined with the above, is why this is a good move by Sheffield United.

Quiz: Which club did Sheffield United sign these 24 players from in the 2000s?

1 of 24

Article image:“The right call” – Sheffield United looking to secure 29-year-old’s service for 2022/23: The verdict

Who did Sheffield United sign Matthew Kilgallon from in the 2000's?

Burnley Everton Watford Leeds United

Ned Holmes

The right call, in my eyes.

Wes Foderingham has clearly established himself as Sheffield United’s number one but Adam Davies is useful backup at Championship level.

Keeping him at the club means that they have cover there and can concentrate on improving other parts of the squad, rather than recruiting a new second-string shot-stopper.

The incentive needs to be there for Davies to unseat Foderingham, though, and you’d imagine the 29-year-old will get a chance to prove himself in cup competitions.

It won’t be the most exciting deal that the Blades do this summer but that’s not to say it won’t prove important.

View publisher imprint