​​​​​​​Sheffield United must loan out star who made 21 Premier League apps last season: View | OneFootball

The young striker made 21 Premier League appearances for the Blades last season, but a loan move would help his development.

]A number of ins and outs are expected at Bramall Lane ahead of the 2024-25 season, as Sheffield United prepare themselves for life in the Championship after a disastrous one year spell in the Premier League.

The Blades' brief top-flight foray ended miserably, as they finished rock bottom with just 16 points and conceded a Premier League record 104 goals in 38 matches, making a swift and unwanted return to the second tier.

Relegation means Chris Wilder, who returned to replace Paul Heckingbottom in December, is expected to overhaul his squad this summer as he looks to steer United back to the Premier League, just as he did back in 2019.

The Blades have already confirmed Chris Basham, George Baldock, Oliver Norwood, Wes Foderingham, and Max Lowe will all be released when their current deals expire in the summer and more departures are expected.

Will Osula could be among those plying his trade away from Bramall Lane next season, albeit only temporarily.

Will Osula struggled in the Premier League for Sheffield United

The 20-year-old striker made 21 Premier League appearances last season, but only nine of those were starts, and he failed to score or register an assist throughout the league campaign.

The Denmark Under-21 international fared better in the FA Cup, scoring twice in the 4-0 win over Gillingham in the third round and scoring in the following round, as United were knocked out after losing 5-2 at home to Brighton.

Unsurprisingly for a player of his age, Osula looked some way off from the level required in the Premier League, and he would arguably not have been involved as often as he was, bar for the Blades' lack of options up front.

But with Cameron Archer struggling for consistency and Rhian Brewster sidelined by injuries, Heckingbottom and Wilder had little choice but to turn to Osula at times.

As things stand, the attacking cupboard at Bramall Lane is not expected to be overflowing with options next season either. Ben Brereton Diaz is expected to return to Villarreal this summer after the end of his loan spell, while Archer will return to Aston Villa as part of a unique deal.

The forward joined Sheffield United in a deal worth £18m that included a buy-back obligation in the event of relegation, which has since been triggered.

Chris Wilder faces shortage of attacking options at Sheffield United

Archer's return to Villa leaves Oli McBurnie, Brewster and Daniel Jebbison as the only strikers on the books at Bramall Lane.

The latter is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, but the Blades have made him a new contract offer in a bid to fend off interest from Leeds United - likewise McBurnie, who is also in contract talks but it remains to be seen whether he pens a new one.

But despite the paucity of options at the Blades' disposal, loaning out Osula may be the best option for both player and club.

At just 20 years of age, Osula is still raw and needs time to develop without shouldering the burden of a team's promotion chances, as would be the case at Bramall Lane.

Will Osula may benefit from a loan spell away from Sheffield United

Osula found the net regularly in the Professional Development League games for United, before scoring three times in two appearances for the club's Under-21 team at the beginning of the 2022-23 season.

That earned him a loan move to Derby County, where he scored five goals in 21 appearances in the first half of the season, before returning to Bramall Lane.

Frustratingly for both him and the Blades, Osula found regular football hard to come by at Pride Park and started just three times for the Rams.

With a season of Premier League under his belt, the Danish should be far better equipped to show his worth on loan either at another Championship club or further down the EFL pyramid.

Wilder and the Blades desperately need a proven goalscorer and the 20-year-old is yet to prove he is what they need.