2 Bargain Signings Sheffield United Should Bring In Before Deadline Day
Sheffield United have been great to watch this season and after understandably hitting a sticky patch, they were back in their groove recently to win at Norwich and remain confident that they can challenge for back-to-back promotions.
Their success over the last two years has been based on an excellent transfer policy with £522k spent on goalkeeper Simon Moore – the most they paid out last summer.
Players of great calibre including Jake Wright, John Fleck, Mark Duffy and James Wilson have all arrived for nothing and have impressed to varying degrees. So it is unlikely that the Blades will suddenly delve into the world of multi-million transfers.
That said, if they want to get over the line and get themselves into the playoffs at the end of the season, they may still need to invest in the squad further. Here are two bargains they may wish to indulge in:
John Egan (Brentford)
Since coming through the ranks at Sunderland, Egan has gone around the block a few times with loan spells at Crystal Palace, Bradford City, Southend and crucially, Sheffield United. The fact that he has spent time at Bramall Lane would make any move to last year’s runaway League One champions much easier for him, though Brentford may not want to let him go too easily.
That said, an offer of around £750,000 may be enough to at least make the West London side consider a bid and so a deal could yet be done before the deadline. Brentford have shown us several times in the past that they are willing to do business when it comes to players being courted by other clubs. So the Blades will surely get their man if they pursue this deal vigorously enough.
Liam Moore (Reading)
Another defensive option for Chris Wilder is Liam Moore, a former England Under-21 International for whom great things were predicted back in 2012. He hasn’t quite hit the heights everyone thought he would but he retains plenty of ability and is playing at a very good level right now.
Like Egan, Moore also fits into Wilder’s policy of having an English speaking squad, meaning that continuity will not be an issue. Moore was allowed to leave Leicester City for Reading in 2016 for close to £1.5million, meaning the 24-year-old would still not break the bank and could, in fact, arrive at Bramall Lane for a similar sort of transfer fee.