Sheffield United transfer news Sheffield United transfer news

Barely had the celebratory confetti been swept from the Wembley turf after Sheffield Uniteds Play-Off Final defeat last month, and transfer speculation was rife around Luke Schenn Men Jersey Bramall Lane.After a season containing more ups and downs than the Pepsi Max Big One at Blackpool, United ultimately experienced disappointment yet again in the Coca-Cola Big One the Championship Play-Off Final against Burley. Wade Elliots stunning early strike, curled high into Paddy Kennys top right hand corner, broke red and white hearts and condemned them to another season in English footballs second tier.The 1-0 defeat was a bitter pill to swallow in the corridors of power of Bramall Lane for Uniteds moneymen, too. Next season will be the first Kevin Blackwell will work without the undoubted aid of Premier League parachute payments, and the United manager has already stated his intent to bring anything up to ten new faces to Sheffield.Working under tight financial constraints is not an unknown situation for Blackwell, however, who was at the helm at Leeds United during their troubled times and also had a spell at cash-strapped Luton Town.Kevin Blackwell man at the helm.There can be no doubt that Blackwells purse strings will be tightened by his chairman, Kevin McCabe, and the po sible full transfer of former loanee Arturo Lupoli from Fiorentina has been thrown into doubt after United officials revealed that his asking price could be too much to lure him away from the Stadio Artemio Franchi.Italian Lupoli made the best po sible start in a United shirt, scoring on his debut against bitter rivals Wednesday, but made only one more start as Blackwell preferred to utilise his talents from the substitutes bench. His two goals showed glimpses of the potential he has, but a horrible tackle from behind born out of frustration in the Play-Off Final marred Mikhail Sergachev Women Jersey his short United career.If he is not to return to Bramall Lane, the differentiation between his first act for Sheffield United and his last will be of a great irony to supporters. Clearly, some reinforcements are needed in Uniteds striker department after loanees Craig Beattie and Lupoli returned to their respective parent clubs, and Danny Webber was released from his contract.Blackwell is therefore left with Darius Henderson, Jamie Ward and Billy Sharp as his only senior strikers at the club. The former is liable to succumb to either injury or suspension both seen frequently in his first season at Bramall Lane, starting just 25 times and the latter, although proven at lower levels, are still yet to consistently prove their worth in a Premier League-chasing team.It is therefore somewhat baffling that one of Blackwells main striking transfer targets appears to be Jermaine Beckford of League One Leeds United.Beckford did net 34 times for Uniteds Yorkshire rivals in their own doomed Play-Off campaign, and his self-confidence is clearly not in doubt. After being placed on the Elland Road transfer list following his exce sive wage demands, Beckford insisted he will only move to a top-end Championship club if a Premier League move did not materialise. Rumours that Blackwell will offer his former club 1.5m plus Sharp refuse to go away, but exchanging one profligate lower-league Alan Shearer-cum-top-league Diego Forlan for another not proven at this level could be an expensive gamble that neither Kevin is prepared to take.Billy Sharp: Lower league Shearer, higher level Forlan.It is well known, however, that McCabe has i sued his manager with the brief to focus his recruitment policy on youngsters that will have a high resale value, and another reported target that fits these criteria is Ched Evans of Manchester City. At the time of Anthony Cirelli Jersey writing United have had a 1.5m bid rejected by the Eastlands hierarchy, who are reportedly holding out for 3m for their academy graduate.Still only 20, Evans is a regular in John Toshacks senior Welsh squad and, perhaps crucially, is proven at Championship level after scoring ten goals on loan at Norwich City two seasons ago. With seemingly unlimited funds at his disposal Mark Hughes, Blackwells counterpart at the City of Manchester Stadium, is planning a series of bids for forward targets including Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz, and Evans is expected to be surplus to requirements.One target that is reportedly in the bag is Lee Williamson, of Watford. Although not officially confirmed by either club reports suggest that the former Rotherham United midfielder will join United for 500,000, and may yet be joined by fellow Hornet John-Joe OToole, who also spent the last third of the season at Bramall Lane on loan.As far as summer transfer activity goes, however, Blackwells toughest task may yet prove to be staving off the vultures circling over Bramall Lane eyeing up his most precious gems. Kyle Naughton in particular is expected to be the subject of numerous top-flight interest, with clubs including Manchester United thought to be considering testing Uniteds resolve and Matthew Kilgallon, one of the standout performers throughout the whole season, could be tempted by a Premier League move.Certainly, the talented Dan Girardi Women Jersey duo will harbour international aspirations of their own and will cast envious glances in the direction of Phil Jagielka, who left United after their Premier League relegation for Everton and has never looked back. Jagielka has been one of David Moyes most consistent performers following his 4m move, and has since made his full England debut and after scoring the penalty to take the Toffees to Wembley, only mi sed his first FA Cup Final thanks to a cruel injury.If all this speculation was not enough to cloud Blackwells thinking as he attempts to relax on an exotic beach somewhere, he must also contend with other clubs trying to tempt not only his players away from Bramall Lane but his staff also. A sistant manager Sam Ellis was coveted by Stoke City before turning them down to continue an established partnership with Blackwell and Gary Speed is the Luke Witkowski Kids Jersey subject of attention from Swansea City, who want the former Wales midfielder-cum-coach as a replacement for Wigan-bound Roberto Martinez.Whether Blackwell will be able to resist the pound signs and keep hold of his prized a sets, whilst bringing in the players capable of delivering Premier League football to Bramall Lane, remains to be seen but the former Leeds chief has been in the game long enough to expect such constant speculation before the season kicks off