⚔️ The Shoreham Journal - Sheffield United transfer latest: Alzate, Sorensen, Doyle
When will Ruben Selles make his first signing as Sheffield United manager? 🗞️
Hello and welcome to The Shoreham Journal, a free newsletter all about Sheffield United Football Club. In today’s edition, we round-up the latest transfer news from Bramall Lane.
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Who will United sign this summer? 🗞️
👀 Sheffield United are admirers of Hull midfielder Steven Alzate, according to Mirror Football’s Dan Marsh. Alzate joined the Tigers a year ago after being released by Brighton and, after a slow start, has rebuilt his career in Yorkshire.
🔥 Playing under new Blades boss Ruben Selles at Hull, Alzate showed the kind of form that persuaded Brighton to sign him from Leyton Orient in 2017 and Colombia to give him seven senior caps. Valencia are United’s big rivals in the chase for Alzate, having stepped up their interest in the 26-year-old, according to Dan’s update in Mirror Football’s live transfer blog.
The Shoreham Journal says… We should expect Selles to be linked with several of his former Hull players over the coming weeks. Whether United will actually swoop for someone who was playing at the bottom end of the Championship last season is another matter. But, as Chris Wilder’s sacking proves, anything can happen in football.
🇩🇰 One name to keep an eye on this summer is Oliver Sorensen, who’s been linked with United before. The 23-year-old is known for his work rate and has become a key member of Danish side Midtjylland’s midfield during the last few years. He’s currently representing his country at the U21 Euros.
⚽️ Sorensen scored 10 goals and provided five assists in all competitions last season and is expected to carry a £7 million price tag. Midtjylland’s chairman, Claus Steinlein, confirmed to Tipsbladet that Sorensen will be allowed to leave Denmark this summer… if the price is right.
Steinlein said: “We promised him (a summer transfer). We have given him permission to study the possibilities, but it also has to be something that suits Oliver. And it has to be something that suits us. We are quite concerned about money, and Oliver is quite concerned about it being the right thing in terms of sport. You have to make sure that it works.”
🗣️ Sorensen has also hinted at leaving Denmark. Speaking to Ekstra Bladet via Sport Witness, he’s described his time at Midtjylland as “special” and that leaving is “part of football”. Denmark lost 3-2 to France in the quarter-finals of the U21 Euros, meaning Sorensen is now free to explore his future.
Sorensen said: “When my time is over (at Midtjylland), it will be strange. I also think that when we get closer to what is about to happen now, it will probably be sad for me.”
🔴 The Blades are interested in re-signing Tommy Doyle, according to EFL Analysis. Yet the same outlet claims that Birmingham City are leading the race for the midfielder’s signature, with Sunderland and Wrexham also linked with the player. Wolves boss Vitor Pereira has already hinted that Doyle, who spent the 2022-23 season on loan at United, could leave Wolves soon.
Pereira said in April: “We need to understand that we face top teams, top players. We need to run a lot and he (Doyle) is missing this physicality, especially when we play with two midfielders. With three midfielders, I believe he is a 10 with high quality.”
🙏 Jamie Hoyland is set to remain as United’s chief scout heading into the new season, according to Alan Nixon. The 59-year-old returned to Bramall Lane last year to join the club’s recruitment team. Hoyland played for United during the 1990s, following in his dad Tommy’s footsteps.
The Shoreham Journal says… It would be great to see Hoyland keep his job in the post-Wilder era. His connection with the club is deep-rooted and well known, but it’s his work in recent times that’s really caught the eye. With the likes of Michael Cooper, Callum O’Hare, Harrison Burrows and Tyrese Campbell all arriving at Bramall Lane in the last 12 months, it’s clear to see that Hoyland and the rest of the recruitment team are doing a stellar job.
❌ Although Hoyland is expected to stay in his role, the same can’t be said for Jack Lester. As reported by The Star, first-team coach Lester will follow Wilder, Alan Knill and Matt Prestridge out of the door at Bramall Lane.
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🗣️ Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman believes Wilder will receive plenty of offers from Championship clubs in the coming months. Speaking to Football League World, Goodman has described Wilder’s sacking as “harsh in the extreme” and insists the manager “is a proven winner” at Championship level.
Goodman said: “I don’t know whether he’ll want a break or if he’ll want to get straight back in, but I don’t expect he’ll be short of offers.”
✅ Former United striker Daniel Jebbison has joined Preston on a season-long loan. The 21-year-old, who ran down his contract at Bramall Lane before joining Bournemouth last summer, will work under former Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom again after scoring just once in the Premier League last term.
⚽️ Speaking of former United strikers, William Osula has spoken about how different it is playing for Newcastle during a chat with Danish outlet Campo, insisting you can “100 per cent” feel the gap between the clubs. Osula left the Blades for the Magpies last summer in a deal worth up to £15 million.
Osula said: “In everyday life in training and during the matches. The fact that those you play with have great quality. It was also high quality at Sheffield United. They were also in the Premier League. But of course, there is a difference, also because Newcastle is a bigger club.”
😬 Jimmy from the Blades Ramble YouTube channel has raised concerns about signing Alfie Devine and Ash Phillips on loan. As reported by The Star, United are interested in signing the Tottenham duo. Jimmy has told Football League World he’s in favour of signing the players, but only permanently.
Jimmy said: “I’m not convinced that he (Phillips) will be a top-end Championship defender yet, and even if he does become that over the season, we’re only developing Tottenham’s youth.”
🎟️ The Blades have announced their membership packages for the new season. Benefits for adult members include £1 off every home game ticket, 100 loyalty points and free access to U21 games held at Bramall Lane. Adult memberships cost £40, while the junior equivalent is priced at £20. See United’s website for more information about memberships.
In this newsletter, I will stick to covering the Blades. But if you’re after a free, concise, round-up of what’s happening in the city of Sheffield, I’d recommend checking out The Sheffield Drop by local lad and journalist Andrew Dowdeswell. It’s ad-free, takes about a minute to read, and it’s sent three times a week.
