⚔️ The Shoreham Journal - Sheffield United hint at first summer transfer
You've enjoyed the Spanish sunshine for a year, Oli, now it's time to come home 🗞️
Hello and welcome to The Shoreham Journal, a free newsletter all about Sheffield United Football Club. In today’s edition, we take a look at Oli McBurnie’s potential return to Bramall Lane and round up the latest news. If you’re enjoying this newsletter, please consider forwarding it to another United fan. Word-of-mouth really helps The Shoreham Journal grow. Cheers!
You’re in the right place 👋
I’d just like to start off today’s edition by saying hello to our new subscribers!
The Shoreham Journal picked up its 400th subscriber this week, and it’s wonderful to have so many Sheffield United fans supporting the newsletter. Being born and raised in Sheffield, it’s a dream of mine to cover the Blades, and I’m only able to do that thanks to your support. So, cheers! 🍻
I’m really keen for The Shoreham Journal to be a newsletter that serves United fans everywhere, so please write to me using this form or use the comment function below if you’d like to give any feedback.
So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into the news…
Return of the Mc? 🔜
It seems that Oli McBurnie is heading back to United… if social media is anything to go by.
As of Thursday night, the striker’s return to Bramall Lane is yet to be announced. But the Blades uploaded three posts of McBurnie to their Instagram account on Wednesday, when he celebrated his 29th birthday.
While it could be argued that United were simply wishing the cult hero a happy birthday, uploading three separate posts seems a little excessive, especially when speculation is circulating over a return to South Yorkshire.
As pointed out in the previous edition of The Shoreham Journal, there are reports linking McBurnie with a return to United, although fellow Championship sides Hull and Swansea are also interested in the striker.
While he still has two years left on his deal with Las Palmas, a clause in his contract allows him to leave the Spanish side on a free transfer following their relegation from La Liga. McBurnie found the net five times last season.
During his five-year spell with the Blades, McBurnie scored 29 goals in 159 appearances, with 26 of those coming in the league. He’s a 16-cap Scotland international, although he’s never scored at that level.
Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman, speaking to Football League World, believes United re-signing McBurnie could be a bad idea for both parties involved.
Goodman said: “Sometimes in football they say, ‘never go back’, don't they? I'm not sure of too many amazing examples where players have gone back to former clubs, and it's worked out, really.”
The Shoreham Journal says: Re-signing McBurnie is a smart bit of business. The striker is proven at Championship level, scoring 15 goals during United’s promotion-winning campaign of 2022-23, and knows exactly what it takes to get up. He’s also a popular figure among staff and fans. Bring him home!
Latest news from Bramall Lane 🗞️
⚽️ United are interested in signing Emil Riis Jakobsen, according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph. The 26-year-old striker, who stands at 6ft 3in, is out of contract at Preston and did well during the 2024-25 season, scoring 12 goals in 45 Championship games. Coventry are also after the player.
🚨 United could swoop for Tyler Morton, claims The Star. The highly-rated Liverpool midfielder, 22, is expected to leave Anfield on loan this summer after failing to break into Arne Slot’s starting XI during their title-winning campaign. Morton has plenty of experience in the Championship, having completed season-long loan spells at Blackburn and Hull.
💥 Tommy Doyle is another name that’s cropped up. According to TEAMtalk, Wolves are willing to sell the midfielder, who spent the 2022-23 campaign on loan at United, for just £3 million this summer. It’s claimed Sunderland are leading the race for Doyle’s signature, with United and Wrexham in pursuit.
🔙 As recalled by The Star, Doyle has already made his feelings clear on a return to Bramall Lane. He spoke about the possibility of re-signing for United before completing a switch from Manchester City to Wolves.
Doyle said: “I love the place and I would love to come back. I’ve got a special bond with the club and the fans so we’ll see what happens. But yes, of course I would love to come back. I’ve always been the same player. But I feel I know the game better now, because of how the staff and the rest of the lads here have treated me. It’s been brilliant, really.”
The Shoreham Journal says: Whether it’s Doyle, Morton or someone else, it’s important for Wilder to strengthen in central midfield, especially if Vini Souza leaves for top-flight football. Doyle would probably be the more popular choice among fans, and it would sting to see him end up at Wrexham. The Hollywood-backed club shouldn’t beat the Blades to any signing.
👀 Jack Rudoni is expected to leave Coventry this summer, says EFL Analysis. The 23-year-old playmaker has just completed a breakthrough season with the Sky Blues, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists in 50 games.
🔥 Rudoni has been touted as a potential replacement for Gus Hamer if the Championship Player of the Season leaves United for the Premier League. But the Blades aren’t the only club being linked with the former Huddersfield star, with Leeds and Newcastle also thought to be keen on him.
✅ Former United defender Callum McFadzean has signed for Radcliffe, a National League North team based in Greater Manchester. The 31-year-old last played in the EFL for Wrexham, leaving the Welsh club a year ago, and made 23 appearances for the Blades after coming through the academy.
✍️ Have you got questions, opinions or feedback to give? Write to me using this form 👨💻
🙏 Ex-United player Chris Kamara has bravely admitted he’s “really weak” during a chat with the Daily Star. The Sky Sports legend is battling apraxia of speech and dyspraxia, having left Soccer Saturday three years ago.
Kamara said: “I'm not like the old Chris Kamara who would say yes to the opening of an envelope. Whereas now I'm a bit more choosy and will I put myself in a situation where it won't work out alongside my apraxia, I have dyspraxia, which affects your balance. So I'm weak, really weak, and you know, going down these stairs isn't great.”
📈 The Sheff Utd Way has published its player ratings for the 2024-25 season. Click here to read it.