Sheffield United have dealt a brutal double blow, West Ham’s £18m-rated target could make a shock decision
It will be a fierce competition between two teams pushing for a return to top-flight football, and the Blades will be looking to extend their impressive unbeaten record of eight games and collect more valuable points.
The last time the two sides met, in November, Blackburn claimed a 3-1 victory at Ewood Park, with Rhian Brewster’s first goal for the visitors ultimately going in vain.
Meanwhile, Blades boss Neil Heckingbottom has spoken out on the future of veteran forward David McGoldrick, after suffering a season-ending injury. To complicate matters, his current contract is due to expire at the end of the current campaign.
The United manager revealed: “Look, we’ll do the right thing for David. First of all, we have to make sure he’s fit. For the rest, I’m not in that position yet. We we don’t yet have the information telling us what is available to us.
“We could have the same team and bring in players from the academy. Or we could have the money to change things up a bit and bring in three or four (new recruits). Until we have that clarity, we can’t really decide. But what I can say is that it shouldn’t change our focus on what we’re trying to achieve and what we want to happen.
He added: “It’s the difficult situation with some of the clauses (to extend the agreements for a year. There are people we would like to keep though.”
Take a look at the latest news and transfer stories from the second tier, ahead of another busy midweek filled with encounters:
Interim Reading boss Paul Ince has a top priority to bolster the team’s faltering defence, as he seeks to keep the struggling side in the Championship. They are currently in 21st place – just five points from the relegation zone. (BBC Sports)
Photo: Ryan Pierse
Preston North End loan star Sepp van den Berg has admitted he is unlikely to have a third season at Deepdale unless the club are promoted. He is aiming to break into the Liverpool first team for the 2022/23 campaign. (THE P)
Photo: Charlotte Tattersall
Former Sunderland star Kevin Phillips has claimed the club made the right decision not to sign Peterborough United striker Jonson Clarke-Harris last month. He suggested the supposed asking price of £6million would have been an unwise long-term investment. (The Football Insider)
Photo: Harriet Lander
Radio host and Peterborough United fan Adrian Durham has urged the club to consider signing Neil Warnock as their new manager. He claimed it would take “a miracle” to keep the team in place and that the team “isn’t fit” for the championship. (talkSPORT)
Photo: Alex Pantling