Reports suggesting that Sheffield United will table a bid to rescue out of favour central midfielder Joe Rothwell from Rangers are gathering strength. Given that the Blades have strength in depth in that department, their interest in the player who helped Southampton and then Leeds United into the Premier League, suggests there may be a big name exit from Bramall Lane in January. Leeds boss Daniel Farke is a big admirer of United's star player, Gus Hamer, and tabled a bid, which was rejected, at the beginning of the 2024-25 season. Now, as Leeds battle for top flight survival, he is reported to make another attempt to prise Harmer away from the Lane. Callum O'Hare, meanwhile, is another Blades' player attracting interest.

Summary

• The potential acquisition of Joe Rothwell by Sheffield United would seem to signal the exit of at least one big name from Bramall Lane
• Sheffield United already possess an impressive pool of nine midfield players
• Manager Chris Wilder acknowledges the need to streamline the squad, indicating that player movements are imminent.
• Rothwell's experience and prior success in gaining promotion could prove invaluable to Sheffield United.
• The ongoing speculation about Gus Harmer's future suggests that significant decisions regarding player transfers are forthcoming.
• Wilder's intention to retain key players while also strengthening the squad indicates a delicate balancing act ahead.

Links referenced in this episode:

• viewfromthejohnstreet.com

Reports that Sheffield United are about to rescue midfield man Joe Rothwell out of favour and currently stranded in Glasgow makes football and financial sense.

If accurate, however, it inevitably presents legitimate questions when all are fit.

The Blades have an enviable looking group of nine first team midfield players to choose from, so why do they need another one?

Manager Chris Wilder has already expressed the view that he has a bloated squad.

He expects a good number of players to be moved on, but key men obviously aren't part of the strategy.

That begs the question, if Rothwell is in the pipeline, is he considered a replacement?

If so, who for?

It's unlikely he would vacate one bench just to sit on another.

Rothwell operates in central midfield, a position in which the Blades are blessed.

Callum o', Hare, Oli Arblaster, Tom Davies, Sidi Peck and Jairo Riedewald, who has just extended his contract until the end of the season.

Even Djibril Sommeray could do a job there.

Then there is the elephant in the room.

Star player Gus Harmer.

Rothwell, 31 next month agreed a three year contract at Ibrox in the summer, but he has become a fringe player since former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Roll replaced Russell Martin in October.

Rothwell was signed by Martin who he previously played under whilst on loan at Southampton.

United would have to cover the three and a half million pounds which Rangers are believed to have paid Bournemouth in the summer for the Manchester born player, a bargain for someone of his quality and experience who spent last season on loan at promotion winning Leeds where he was highly regarded.

Leeds manager Daniel Fark coincidentally is a long standing admirer of 28 year old Hammer.

He made his 100th appearance for the Blades last week at West Brom.

Reports have resurfaced this week of a renewed attempt to prize last season's Championship Player of the Year from Bramall Lane.

O' Hare meanwhile is still a person of interest for Legio Warsaw.

The top tier Polish club monitored him over the summer.

Now mired in a relegation battle involving nine others, the most successful club in Poland's history are looking to strengthen their squad in a bid to avoid the unthinkable.

That offer was dismissed as Derisory United paid Coventry City 15 million for him the previous year.

If Leeds are to table an acceptable bid in January, it is difficult to see how he and United even reluctantly could turn it down.

Harmer, whose form has dipped this season, is at an age where he needs to fulfill his career.

A move to the Premier League would do just that.

The only question for Hamer are Leeds the right club for him given they are running a risk of relegation back to the Championship?

Remaining at the lane where he is worshipped however, is not an attractive option for the Brazilian born Dutchman.

Another anticipated crack at promotion before the season kicked off was quickly downgraded.

The chaos inflicted by United's owners saw to that.

Currently mid table respectability or marginally better is the revised and realistic aspiration, which means the likelihood of at least one additional season in the second tier for Hama.

Then with the clock ticking, there is no progressive future left at the lane for United.

Hama would be a big loss on the pitch but profitable off it money which could be used to help strengthen in areas already identified by Wilder.

If Rothwell does join the Blades, he comes with a glowing recommendation from Leeds boss Farc.

He said of Rothwell earlier this year, he's a pure baller with the ball, probably one of the best in this country.

What he does in terms of passing, his technique and tidy touches is outstanding, adding when it comes down to dominating the game and be there with tidy touches to drive the game forward.

If you enjoy football, you enjoy him playing.

Rothwell also has promotion know how in the past two seasons he has played a big part in Southampton's and then Leeds successful bids to reach the Premier League.

Wilder of course wants his top players to stay, but is well aware other forces are at play.

He said recently, I don't know what's going to happen in January.

I'd like to keep all the players that we've talked about and get to a situation where at the end of the season we are just adding two or three and keeping our best players.

But if somebody comes in with an offer that we can't refuse, we've got to put that to the board and see where we are from that.

Contrary to his public face, the Blades boss will almost certainly have more than an inkling of what might be forced upon him next month and will be planning accordingly.

That would make perfect sense of the reported interest in Rothwell.

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