Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder shouts out an instruction (Getty Images)
Sheffield United are in the promotion picture heading into the busy festive period. The Blades are on 5th on the log just five points off leaders Norwich. Sheffield United have managed 9 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses in 18 Championship games so far.
Chris Wilder’s side needs to add more firepower to their ranks if they are to go all the way. Only Middlesbrough who have scored 21 goals in 18 games have fewer goals than United’s 29 among the top five teams.
Here, we take a look at two players Sheffield United must sign to strengthen their chances of promotion.
John Marquis has been in superb form for Doncaster Rovers in the League One. The 26-year-old has nine goals from 18 matches and the centre-forward, who can also play as a left winger, has averaged a goal every 180 minutes on the pitch.
The striker has also impressed with his movement and finishing ability. Marquis has scored 50 goals and 14 assists in 120 games for Rovers. He’d represent a superb budget addition for the Blades.
Sheffield United are used to working to tight budgets. With a year left on his current contract at Rovers, Marquis is the ideal sort of target for Wilder.
The striker could be tempted with the challenge of playing in the Championship. A move across Yorkshire to Sheffield should appeal massively as it would come with a bump up the divisions. Marquis is talented and Wilder might be able to get the best out of the forward, who is heading into his prime years.
It’s an open secret that Sheffield United need reinforcements to strengthen their attacking options. Billy Sharp has kept things rolling this season but the 32-year-old forward, who will be out of contract next summer, has netted 10 goals in 15 league games.
However, his striking partners have struggled to get going. David McGoldrick has five goals so far while Leon Clarke has a goal and Conor Washington is yet to find the back of the next.
Signing a new centre-forward in January would reduce the goalscoring burden on Sharp. Joselu has struggled to establish himself since leaving Real Madrid. His best spells came in the Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt and Hannover 96. He is currently struggling for game time at Newcastle United, following the acquisition of Salomon Rondon.
With his contract with the Magpies up next season, a move away might appeal to both parties. A drop down the division would offer Joselu the platform he needs to get his career on the right track.
At 28, the former Spain U21 international is in his prime years as a player and should be able to feature regularly. The former Real Madrid ace has a lot left in the tank and he’d offer Sheffield United a different dimension in the attack.
Thus, these two signings would strengthen the Blades’ attack as Wilder’s side looks to mount a serious promotion challenge this season.
