"At this level" - Sheffield United: Pundit backs Ipswich Town player to replace Harry Souttar | OneFootball

The Tractor Boys' star is said to have been attracting interest from the promotion-chasing Blades

Carlton Palmer believes Ipswich Town defender Luke Woolfenden could be the perfect Harry Souttar replacement for Chris Wilder and his Sheffield United side as they continue in their search for promotion to the Championship.

The Blades were dealt a massive blow on Boxing Day as the Australian international was ruled out for the remainder of the season - and much of 2025 - after rupturing an Achilles tendon in the 2-0 defeat to Burnley at Bramall Lane.

The Leicester City loanee had been a mainstay in the heart of the Steel City outfit’s backline for much of the campaign up until then, with 21 league appearances seeing him help United establish themselves as one of the most solid sides in the division when out of possession.

Work will now need to be done to bring in a replacement in the heart of defence, and with TWTD reporting that interest is rising in Woolfenden, Palmer believes a move for the Premier League defender would strengthen their resolve for the second half of the campaign.

Luke Woolfenden backed to be Harry Souttar replacement at Sheffield United

After joining from the Foxes in the summer, Souttar quickly earned the right to become the Blades’ first-choice centre-back this season, with his commanding performances at the back helping Wilder’s side earn 15 clean sheets from their 26 league matches so far.

It already speaks volumes that United have won just one of the four matches in his absence, with defeat to Cardiff City in the FA Cup on Thursday night compounding a tough start to the new year for the former Premier League side.

Having earned promotion to the top flight last season, Woolfenden is a character that would add plenty of resilience should he move to Bramall Lane in the coming weeks, having played in all but five of Ipswich’s matches in the Championship last season.

With game time proving harder to come by after his side made the step-up in division, Palmer believes a move to Yorkshire could suit all parties, with the promotion-chasers keen to add an experienced defender to their squad to give Jack Robinson and Anel Ahmedhodzic competition for a starting berth.

When asked about the Woolfenden links, Palmer said: “Sheffield United are keen on Ipswich Town centre back Luke Woolfenden, we know Chris Wilder was looking to bring in one or two replacements in the summer, he has been unfortunate this season that he has had season-ending injuries to Oli Arblaster and now Harry Souttar.

“So, he needs to bring in another centre-back and apparently he was interested in Woolfenden in the summer, and he needs to bring in a centre-back, as they are a point off leaders Leeds United.

“A centre-back wasn’t going to be on his list of priorities, but obviously the injury that will keep him out for the season has left a huge gap in the squad, literally and figuratively as Souttar was outstanding and it was working out magnificently.

“It remains to be seen what happens, he was very interested in Woolfenden, I think Woolfenden could do a very good job - he has proven he can do that at this level before - and I believe talks are ongoing between the football clubs.

“Chris Wilder is hoping to get Woolfenden or somebody else in as soon as possible, which will help them as they continue to try and get back to the Premier League at the first attempt.”

Luke Woolfenden Ipswich Town experience could prove vital to Sheffield United

Ipswich were by no means the most watertight team at the back last season, but Woolfenden’s presence in the backline played a massive part in helping the Tractor Boys to earn promotion to the Premier League.

Having earned his stripes at Portman Road in League One, the academy graduate has gone on to earn over 200 appearances for the Suffolk side in all competitions, including eight games in the top flight this season.

The centre-back [pictured] played 90 minutes in Town’s 2-2 draw with Fulham last weekend, as well as in the 2-0 victory over Chelsea in his side’s final match of 2024, but could well be on his way out of East Anglia before the end of the month, with talk hotting up over a move to Yorkshire.

United need extra resources at the back to deal with the relentless Championship schedule in the second-half of the season, and in Woolfenden they would have someone who has already proven they have what it takes to keep out the best that the Championship has to offer.

With the race for automatic promotion hotting up, United need to act fast to bolster their backline, and the Ipswich Town man could add the solidity needed for them to get back on track in the race for the top two.