Sheffield United enter transfer race for Manchester City defender | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Max Alleyne is now firmly at the centre of a transfer battle emerging within the Championship this summer as Sheffield United emerge as the latest suitor.

The 20-year-old has been highly regarded within City’s academy setup for several years and is now considered ready to take the next step in his professional development with a loan move into senior football.

Having previously been tracked by Borussia Dortmund and several other European clubs, Alleyne now looks set to stay within England, but only for the right opportunity with a number of potential suitors on the table.

Talk of Sheffield United’s involvement adds an intriguing twist to the race, with the Blades having developed a strong working relationship with Manchester City in recent seasons through loan agreements for James McAtee and Tommy Doyle in recent campaigns.

Alleyne – son of former England and Gloucestershire all-rounder Mark – was previously named Manchester City’s Under-18 Player of the Year and has been described by Pep Guardiola as possessing a “special quality with the ball”.

The Catalan boss has also previously stated, “We trust a lot in him,” underlining the club’s belief in his long-term potential. However, with intense competition in City’s first-team squad, both player and club agree that regular senior minutes are now essential.

According to a new report from SportsBoom, Max Alleyne is now wanted by Championship duo Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United, with Etihad Stadium officials prepared to let the highly-rated 20-year-old leave on loan for much-needed regular football.

Both Rovers and the Blades are reportedly hoping to tempt Alleyne by regular Championship football next season, although the players talents are expected to attract even wider attention in the days and weeks to come.

Additional reporting from Fabrizio Romano has also named Watford as a potential loan destination with negotiations underway. City, from their side, plan for Alleyne to sign new contract at the club before any temporary exit is signed off.

Alleyne himself has made no secret of his long-term ambition, revealing in a recent interview, “Hopefully [the next step is] playing for the club… There’s a pathway to the first team from the academy. I’ve got to show the manager what I can do.”

Manchester City are carefully managing a wave of outgoing loans this summer for elite academy graduates. Recent reports have also confirmed Celtic’s expected capture of Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan, while there is also interest in Kaden Braithwaite and Lakyle Samuel.

Should Sheffield United succeed in convincing Alleyne to join, he could follow the development pathway seen with McAtee – a player who thrived under regular first-team exposure and returned to Manchester City as a more complete midfielder.

However, Blackburn remain a serious contender, with the promise of central defensive minutes and a clear role in their rebuild, and Watford are evidently aiming to beat all potential suitors as they open up formal negotiations with their City counterparts.

A decision is expected in the coming days, but given Max Alleyne’s quality and pedigree, there may still be late competition from other Championship clubs or European sides monitoring the situation.