It’s been a summer of much change at Sheffield United.
Firstly, Chris Wilder was axed from his job post at Bramall Lane after failing to clinch promotion to the Premier League, as former Hull City boss Ruben Selles was then unveiled as his surprise successor.
There has also been plenty of change with the on-the-pitch personnel, with Rhian Brewster recently walking away from South Yorkshire for a new challenge at Derby County, on top of Kieffer Moore being tipped to link up with Championship newcomers Wrexham.
Moore’s move to the Blades just didn’t work out for the most part in the end, as the experienced EFL marksman never quite got up to speed with what was expected of him in United red and white.
Kieffer Moore’s failed move to United
Wilder would have purchased Moore hoping he could be a key part of the Bramall Lane jigsaw as promotion was triumphantly achieved.
After all, when the imposing 6-foot-5 menace has been at the top of his game, he’s proven himself to be a nuisance in the EFL’s elite division, having bagged a total of 59 strikes in the Championship across his playing days to date.
Moore’s numbers with United
Stat
Moore
Games played
30
Goals scored
6
Assists
0
Games missed through injury
17
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Unfortunately, Moore’s wretched luck with injuries would derail his short-term stay in South Yorkshire, with only six goals mustered up by the Welshman when he was free of those recurring issues.
Wrexham will be hoping he isn’t a permanent fixture of the Racehorse Ground treatment room this coming season, considering they’ve reportedly forked out £2m for his services, as a deal edges ever closer to being confirmed.
United will just be looking to put the failure of the move quickly behind them, with this free agent now standing out as an ideal replacement for the unlucky 32-year-old.
United could land “unbelievable” Moore replacement
Currently, Selles does have Tom Cannon and Tyrese Campbell still at his disposal in the forward areas, with the pair boasting an impressive 61 goals between them in the second tier.
However, the ex-Tigers manager’s options in attack would really be boosted by the standout return of Oli McBurnie to Bramall Lane, with recent reports by the Sheffield Star indicating that an official offer had been lodged by the Blades to bring the free agent forward back to familiar surroundings.
McBurnie is very much built in the same mould as the towering Moore, with the Scotsman coming in at a lofty 6-foot-2 frame, with a potent edge in front of goal also very much present in his game, especially when plying his trade in the Championship.
The 29-year-old even gave a glowing account of himself last season in La Liga with Las Palmas when registering a reasonable three goals and six assists – which is a heftier tally overall that Moore’s own haul last season in England – with a hunger surely within McBurnie to return to Bramall Lane and be a success again, having already been part of one magical promotion journey in South Yorkshire.
McBurnie’s record in the Championship by club
Club played for
Games played
Goals scored
Assists
Sheffield United
66
13
4
Swansea City
42
22
4
Barnsley
17
9
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
In total, McBurnie has helped himself to a lethal 44 strikes in the demanding division previously, with his work ethic for Swansea even being heralded as “incredible” by his then-Swans boss Graham Potter.
That amount overall means he is only 14 strikes off matching Moore’s bumper Championship total, with a desire surely on McBurnie’s end to try and eclipse the Welshman’s output if he returns to the Steel City shortly.
The one-time £20m signing will likely be welcomed back with open arms, and if he can get back to his ‘”unbelievable” best – as he was once dubbed by former Blades teammate John Egan – another promotion might be on the cards under Selles.