Sheffield United has a busy summer ahead of them as they get ready for life in the Championship following a terrible run in the Premier League.
The Blades made an abrupt and unwelcome return to the lower division after finishing last place with just 16 points and giving up a Premier League record 104 goals in 38 games.
United has already announced that Chris Basham, George Baldock, Oliver Norwood, Wes Foderingham, and Max Lowe will all be released when their current contracts end in the summer. Chris Wilder is anticipated to make significant changes to his squad.
It is anticipated that there may be more departures, as several players may go on loan to further their development.
Football League World examines which players this summer may go on loan from Bramall Lane.
Antwoine Hackford
Antwoine Hackford played in the Blades’ opening two Premier League games of the previous campaign. However, he then rejoined the Under-18 team and was loaned to Burton Albion in February.
The 20-year-old saw very little action at the Pirelli Stadium, making only six appearances for Albion, all of which were as substitutes.
With his sheer speed in the Under-18 Premier League, Hackford was a threat right away, and this season the Blades should give him another opportunity to show himself away from Bramall Lane.
Billy Blacker
Even as a squad player, Billy Blacker has not yet made his professional debut, so joining the Blades senior squad right away in the Championship may not be the best way for him to adjust to life there.
The left-winger has been a standout player for the United Under-18 squad, contributing an assist in his Under-21 debut against Newcastle United and scoring three goals in three FA Youth Cup games.
Although the 18-year-old is a bright prospect who might eventually win a spot at United, at this point in his career it might be best for him to leave Bramall Lane and join a team lower on the EFL pyramid.
Jilly Buyabu
The left-back was included to the matchday squad for the Blades’ matches against Manchester United in October and Crystal Palace in January, but he did not play. Last season, the left-back made his senior debut for the team, playing 27 minutes in the loss to Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup second round.
Jilly Buyabu only made one appearance in the Scottish Cup and did not play in the Scottish Premiership during his second half of the previous season while on loan at Motherwell.
The 18-year-old has to play frequently in order to develop, and United will probably give it serious thought to loaning him out once more this season in the hopes of having a far more fruitful experience than his time spent up north
the border.
Wilder isn’t exactly spoilt for choices at left-back, but Buyabu is unlikely to be the answer to that particular conundrum for the time being.
Femi Seriki
The right-back was included in the matchday squad twelve times in the previous campaign, but he did not play a single minute of football for United; the only time he was on the pitch was to start the team’s 4-0 FA Cup victory over Gillingham in the third round.
In January, Femi Seriki was loaned to Rotherham, although only two of his ten games were starts, thus the move was not exactly a resounding success.
Seriki has taken out four loans in the last three years, including one at The Millers, so it’s possible that he will take out another loan away from Bramall Lane.
However, the defender has limited time left to make an impression on the Blades at 22.
Louie Marsh
Louie Marsh impressed in the Blades’ Under-21 set-up last season, scoring 10 goals in the last eight matches of the Professional Development League.
The 20-year-old spent the first half of last season on loan at Doncaster Rovers, but started just two of his six appearances and failed to make his mark in League One.
At the same time, that should not discourage EFL clubs to take a punt on a talented striker, while the Blades will be eager to give Marsh a second chance to impress at senior level.
Sydie Peck
After having surgery on his left knee in January of last year, Sydie Peck was unable to play for the rest of the season after making his Premier League debut against Brentford.
The adolescent midfield player, a former member of the Arsenal academy, has high expectations at Bramall Lane after demonstrating a lot of promise at the youth level. He scored goals in the FA Youth Cup and the Premier League Under-18.
For United to give him the opportunity to grow into the player they think he can be at 19, a loan move might be the best option.
