Two weeks ago, Sheffield United fell at the final hurdle in their attempt to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. They suffered yet another play-off defeat at the hands of Sunderland at Wembley.
Coming so close, Sheffield United and Chris Wilder will now be tasked with regrouping and attempting once again to return to the top flight of English football.
While the Wembley defeat will take some time to overcome, next season will bring with it a new opportunity to have a successful campaign and achieve promotion.
Embed from Getty ImagesNo doubt, there will be changes at the club. Several players, including EFL Championship Player of the Season Gustavo Hamer, may be subject to interest.
Hamer, who has been linked with several clubs, could play in the Premier League next season. The architect behind the opener in the play-off final would be a huge loss and would take some replacing.
Furthermore, the likes of Ollie Arblaster, Vini Souza and Anel Ahmedhodzic will all likely be of interest, and the Blades will do well to keep hold of the bulk of their squad from the last campaign.
Embed from Getty ImagesAccording to reports, the future of Chris Wilder is also uncertain, with Sheffield United set to decide in the coming week about his future. The Blades boss has achieved two promotions across his two spells at Sheffield United, yet it is currently uncertain if he will be in the dugout next season.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland at Wembley, Wilder said: “It’s going to take quite a while to get over, for the players, the staff and most importantly the supporters.”
Speaking about his future, he said: “Everything will take care of itself. I’ve not thought about futures, personally or from a player’s point of view. The players will be hurting, the supporters will be, the coaching staff will be, but it is what it is, and we’re going to have to deal with it.
Embed from Getty Images“It’s how you personally overcome it, and it’s going to be a time where we’re going to have to suffer. We will get over it as a football club, the club’s going to be here for another 130-odd years, and we had an opportunity to change the narrative on the play-offs, and we’ve not taken that.
“With a new season and a new pre-season, there will be renewed optimism, but it’s going to be tough.”
Chris Wilder, Sheffield United Manager
If Wilder is to depart, Sheffield United will be in search of a new manager. The recent moves of Will Still and Russell Martin to Southampton and Rangers, respectively, have ruled them out of the running, though there are still plenty of potential replacements.
Names such as Sean Dyche, Gary O’Neil and Steve Cooper are the current frontrunners should Wilder leave, according to reports from National World.
Embed from Getty ImagesAcross the city, could Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl be tempted out of Hillsborough, especially given their current financial situation?
There will be plenty of positives for the side to take into the next season. The Blades will likely still possess one of the strongest sides in the division, so whoever is at the helm will be expected to achieve promotion next season.
The club will also certainly bring in recruits to bolster the chances of promotion.
According to The Star, Liverpool youngster Tyler Morton is a name already linked to Bramall Lane, after he previously impressed during loan spells to Blackburn Rovers and Hull City.
Embed from Getty ImagesSpending the last season down the pecking order at Premier League winners Liverpool, the 22-year-old will likely be seeking a permanent move with the desire for regular first-team football.
Elsewhere, the club may look to strengthen at the back. Following Rob Holding’s return to Crystal Palace and with Anel Ahmedhodzic and Jack Robinson entering the final year of their contracts, recruits will likely be brought in.
Holding could return due to him being out of favour with Palace boss Oliver Glasner, while players such as Jimmy Dunne and Jahpet Tanganga were two Championship standouts last season and could be of interest.
With Leicester City under threat of a point deduction, they may face an uphill battle to reach the top of the table. Ipswich and Southampton will also be expected to be vying for promotion and will likely be the greatest challengers to Sheffield United in the Championship race.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Callum Pawley
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