Sheffield United beat Millwall for player agreement with Leeds United snub

It makes sense that Sheffield United will want to make an instant return to the Premier League after their miserable 2023–24 campaign, in which they managed just 16 points, half of which were accumulated by Nottingham Forest, in 17th place. Jamie Shackleton is expected to sign with the Blades before being released by Leeds United.

Only a meagre three wins were also achieved, as both Paul Heckingbottom and legendary Blade Chris Wilder unable to muster the necessary tenacity and determination to bridge the enormous gap that separated survival from relegation.

However, Championship promotion is a familiar concept to both Wilder and United, and that’s exactly what’s going to happen next season.

Even if they already have the core of a team that can win this division, Wilder will surely understand that more support is needed first, therefore he’s already starting to bolster his team.

Sheffield United set to sign Jamie Shackleton from Leeds United

The Blades have successfully negotiated a deal to sign Jamie Shackleton from Yorkshire rivals Leeds United, according to a report from Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider.

This next weekend marks the expiration of the Leeds utility player’s current Elland Road contract, setting off a furious competition for his services among second-tier teams.

Football League World sources have learned that the Blades fought out a few Championship teams to sign Shackleton, with Millwall being one of the teams where he spent the 2022–2023 season on loan.

According to O’Rourke’s claim, Leeds and Shackleton were unable to agree on a new contract, therefore a complete agreement was finalised before to his impending arrival at Bramall Lane.

Leeds will be saddened to lose Shackleton even if he never made a name for himself as a regular after coming through the club’s junior system in the 2018–19 campaign. After all, they were in talks to extend his contract at Elland Road.

Jamie Shackleton a good signing for Sheffield United

Shackleton personifies versatility, which is a key tenet of Wilder’s playing style.

In addition to being used in a range of centre and wide midfield situations, he can play as a right or left defender.

Shackleton might not start every game for United the following season, but the Championship is known for being cruel, and over the course of a 46-game season, injuries, exhaustion, and general inconsistency in performance all tend to pile up. This emphasises the value of having a well-rounded team with players who can fill a variety of roles.

At the Lane, Shackleton will excel in that situation, and Wilder will undoubtedly find a use for him going ahead.

He has played most of his senior career in the middle of the park, so even while he won’t be replacing Gustavo Hamer or even Ollie Arblaster, a promising academy graduate, he will provide United with much-needed depth.

In addition, he is a tenacious and driven player who has been developed during his time at Leeds and fits the requirements of Wilder’s style. Supporters will also be hoping to see this after a tiresome premier league season in which numerous players seemed to lose their will to compete.

With their sights set on the upcoming campaign, United made a wise acquisition in bringing Shackleton on a free transfer, which also somewhat hurts a rival and a direct promotion candidate.