3 Chris Wilder replacements Sheffield United must consider ASAP as sack talk intensifies | OneFootball

With Chris Wilder's Sheffield United future up in the air, FLW have identified three potential replacements

Sheffield United have reportedly decided to sack Chris Wilder.

According to the Telegraph, the Blades have decided to dismiss the 57-year-old for a second time after his performance was reviewed by new owners COH Sports.

It's believed that there are differences between Wilder and the Blades' hierarchy over recruitment and other unspecified issues.

With Wilder set to be sacked, Football League World have identified three potential replacements to lead the Steel City side forward next term.

Sean Dyche

Sean Dyche has spent a large portion of his managerial career operating outside of the Premier League but could be tempted to drop back down to the Championship with Sheffield United.

The 53-year-old guided Burnley out of the second-tier twice, so he wouldn’t have any issues with the task expected of him at Bramall Lane.

Dyche has been out of work since parting ways with Everton in January and would bring consistent top-flight quality to the Blades.

For a team that may feel demoralised after play-off heartbreak, Dyche could provide the perfect antidote with his no-nonsense attitude and redirect attention to the new task at hand.

According to the Sun, Leicester City have also shown interest in acquiring Dyche’s services this summer, so Sheffield United would need to act quickly.

Steve Cooper

A manager desperate to prove himself once again, Sheffield United could provide Steve Cooper with a perfect opportunity to get back into the game.

Nottingham Forest had been resigned to Championship football for over two decades before Cooper took over and helped return the side to the Premier League.

The 45-year-old would inherit a talented squad and would be in the fight for promotion immediately, with Cooper injecting the energy and enthusiasm needed to get the Blades over the line.

Cooper was dismissed by Leicester City in November 2024, but that sacking has somehow reflected positively on the manager.

When the Welshman was given his marching orders, the Foxes were 16th in the Premier League and putting up a good fight against relegation. Come the end of the year, Leicester were 13 points adrift of safety and had been unofficially relegated for months.

A move for Cooper could be a wise bit of business for the Blades.

Gary O’Neil

Despite having two Premier League jobs on his CV, Gary O’Neil is still yet to really prove his managerial credentials throughout an extended stint at a club.

At both Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers, the 42-year-old didn’t reach the end of a second season in charge.

Dropping down to the Championship would provide O’Neil with the opportunity to get back into the game and be at the helm of a side at the sharp end of the table for the very first time, one he would surely relish.

His calm approach has been known to stabilise dressing rooms that may be in a dip, and could use that ethos to help rally the troops at Bramall Lane before another season in the second-tier.

One sticking point could be his lack of Championship experience, having only managed in the Premier League. This would potentially give the likes of Dyche and Cooper a slight advantage over O’Neil during the selection process.