“Huge chunk of the budget” - Sheffield United urged to reconsider Sunderland transfer | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sheffield United are in the market for a new goalkeeper as they prepare for life back in the Championship, with Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson thought to be a target.

It’s been a difficult campaign for the Blades, as they’ve struggled to compete for large parts in the top-flight, but there will be an expectation that they can compete for promotion next season.

Yet, it’s clear that a lot of work needs to be done to the squad, but Chris Wilder isn’t going to have a massive budget to work with due to the ownership situation.

However, a few sales could give Wilder some freedom to bring new players in, and it’s no secret that the Yorkshire side will be in the market for a new keeper.

Sunderland interested in £8m-rated Anthony Patterson

It has been suggested that Rotherham’s Viktor Johansson is on their radar, with the stopper having a release clause of around £750,000.

More recently, The Sun stated that Sheffield United could be ready to offer £8m to sign Patterson from Sunderland, with the 24-year-old having established himself as one of the top keepers outside the Premier League with his performances in the past few years.

That form has seen the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool linked with Patterson, but he may see a move to Bramall Lane as a better option as he will be guaranteed game time.

Sheffield United told to be sensible this summer

On paper, bringing in Patterson would be a real statement of intent for the Blades, and he would be a good addition as they look to bounce back at the first attempt.

But, fan pundit Owain explained that whilst he would be delighted with Patterson joining, the club may need to opt for the cheaper keeper in Johansson if they are operating on a strict budget, as there is a lot of work to do this summer.

“I think I’d prefer Johansson.

“If our budget is going to be as tight as we think it’s going to be, I can’t see why we’d go out and spend £8m on Patterson. That would be a huge chunk of the budget, especially when you can take Johansson for less than a million quid, so we could use the difference to improve elsewhere.

“This isn’t saying Patterson would be a bad signing. He is young, and he has the potential to be number one for a long period of time. So, he would be good for now and the long-term.

“Goalkeeper has to be a number one priority, with Patterson and Johansson both having interest from elsewhere, and we can’t afford to miss out on our targets and be scratching about come pre-season.

“Grbic isn't good enough, Foderingham’s off, Adam Davies isn’t good enough. So we need to bring one of them in as soon as possible really, and have them ready for pre-season. Having a good keeper is the basis for a solid season.”

Sheffield United’s summer plans

You would imagine that most fans will agree with Owain’s point here, as whilst Patterson is a very good keeper by Championship standards, the Blades need to spend wisely this summer.

As he states, a new keeper is a priority, but there are several other positions that need addressing, so they may have to search for a few bargains to ensure they can get enough players through the door.

On that basis, Johansson would be the smart move, as he is proven at Championship level, and he’s available at a cut-price.