Sheffield United are preparing for another campaign in the English second-tier and now reportedly leading the race to bring a renowned central defender to Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United look for further additions after Louie Barry
After a quiet start to the window, the Blades made their fourth signing after bringing in Louie Barry on loan following his excellent spell at Stockport County last term.
The 22-year-old forward also spent time at Hull City and can’t wait to get started in Yorkshire, as he stated: “The first time I had conversations about it, I just couldn’t wait to come here. The season is three weeks away, and I know we have a couple of friendlies before, but I am just buzzing to get started.
“I’ve been at Villa, playing games, training and working hard just for whatever will come next. As I say, when a club like this comes calling, you can’t turn it down and I can’t wait to get into it.”
Addressing their issues in central defence has also become a priority for Ruben Selles, with Le Havre defender Ettiene Youte Kinkoue a Sheffield United target with the competitive season now only a couple of weeks away.
Undoubtedly, winning promotion from the EFL Championship has to be the priority at Bramall Lane this term. Losing out in the playoff final provoked feelings of heartbreak, but a fresh opportunity will soon be here to make amends.
Sheffield United’s summer signings under Ruben Selles
Name
Club arrived from
Louie Barry
Aston Villa (loan)
Ehije Ukaki
Botev Plovdiv
Mihail Polendakov
Septemvri Sofia
Tyler Bindon
Nottingham Forest (loan)
Familiar faces like Bindon will help Selles to get his feet under the table. However, there is a collective appetite among supporters to see experienced new additions join his squad to give them a fighting chance, which could be the case if recent developments evolve.
Sky Sports: Sheffield United lead race to sign Rob Holding
According to Sky Sports Premier League, Sheffield United and Colorado Rapids are ‘leading the race’ to sign Crystal Palace defender Rob Holding this summer.
The £45,000 per week earner is expected to leave Selhurst Park following two years on the books, and a return to Yorkshire could now be on the cards after his loan spell at the Blades last term, where he made 11 appearances in total.
Previously, Holding has been labelled “brilliant” by Mikel Arteta and him coming in on a permanent deal would offer Selles a wealth of top-level experience, given he has featured in just shy of 100 Premier League matches.
Time is of the essence with the Championship kick-off now around the corner, so it will be intriguing to see if Sheffield United can force this one over the line.