Sheffield United told to beat Coventry City in 12-goal star transfer race - He would be a "decent fit" | OneFootball

Football League World's Sheffield United fan pundit weighed in on the club's reported interest in Preston North End striker Emil Riis

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…

The fear of losing prized assets in the aftermath of last month's heartbreaking Championship play-off final defeat to Sunderland undoubtedly looms large at Sheffield United, but there will also be an emphasis on bolstering the squad accordingly to offer the best chance at gaining promotion at the second time of asking as preparations head underway for the 2025/26 campaign.

United will fear summer exits for the likes of Gus Hamer, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Michael Cooper and Vini Souza, who all impressed as Chris Wilder's side finished third behind Leeds United and Burnley and will likely not be short of admirers in the coming weeks and months.

Indeed, Wilder's own future at Bramall Lane hangs very much in the balance at this moment in time amid reports that the club's hierarchy are assessing his situation ahead of a potential dismissal decision following failure to win promotion back to the Premier League at the very first attempt.

Whether it's Wilder in charge for this summer's transfer window or somebody else, however, United are sure to bolster the side's existing striker stable. While Tyrese Campbell returned 10 strikes from just 21 league starts in an impressive debut campaign, Kieffer Moore and Tom Cannon - who joined from Leicester City back in January in a blockbuster £10 million deal - both flattered to deceive infront of goal and fresh firepower could help the Blades' efforts to return to the promised land.

There has been talk of a swift return for Oli McBurnie just a year on from his exit to Spanish outfit Las Palmas, whereas Emil Riis, a reported target in the last window, is on the radar once again, according to a recent update from Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

The 26-year-old striker is set to depart Preston North End as a free agent at the end of this month and is reportedly eager to join a club with Premier League ambitions, with United facing competition from Coventry City and a number of other unnamed second-tier rivals in a bid to seal the deal.

Sheffield United told to beat Coventry City to Emil Riis transfer

FLW asked our Blades fan pundit, Jimmy, whether he would be happy to see Sheffield United secure the Dane's signature, or if his side should pursue a more ambitious target.

Jimmy believes that Riis, who will leave the Lilywhites with 46 goals from 186 appearances and scored on 12 occasions under ex-Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom in 24/25, would represent a "good fit" in the red and white quarters of the Steel City.

In Jimmy's view, any striker signed by the club this summer will be recruited as a squad option behind the likes of Campbell and Cannon, and he thinks Riis would fit the bill.

"Emil Riis, I like him as a striker," Jimmy told FLW.

"I would class him as a good Championship striker. He's been a bit stop-start for Preston recently, but I think he's been one of their top goalscorers in most seasons that he's played there.

"He's always looked quite lively when I've seen him, not always a regular starter but I like him as a player. I think he would be a decent fit for Sheffield United.

"We've obviously been recently linked with Oli McBurnie. We've got Tyrese Campbell, Tom Cannon and Kieffer Moore - I think Rhian Brewster, even if he stays, is classed more as an attacking midfielder these days or certainly a versatile forward as opposed to an out-and-out striker - I think if we are to sign a fourth striker, it will be somebody who's not coming in to be the main man.

"We spent £10 million on Tom Cannon and Campbell is our starting striker. We usually only play with one up front and if we switch to a two, you probably need four strikers.

"I think Riis or McBurnie would be coming in to be a third or fourth-choice striker and that is the type of striker we will be going for if we do indeed sign a striker. It won't be a starting striker that Sheffield United are looking for in this window.

Sheffield United target Emil Riis may want to be a regular starter following Preston exit

Although a move to Sheffield United would no doubt align with Riis' own ambitions of joining a side intent on achieving promotion to the top-flight, Jimmy raises a strong argument about how he would likely struggle to establish himself as a consistent starter.

Riis wasn't always the first name on the team sheet at Deepdale, with 29 of his 45 Championship appearances last term being starts, and he will turn 27 later this month.

At that age, he ought to be looking to nail down a regular starting berth at his next club and that may not be possible with the Blades.

If Riis is indeed happy to play a more reduced role, then such a move would make a great deal of sense. However, he could well want to go elsewhere and become the main man in a promotion push, which is difficult to see at United next season.