Sheffield United are set to unveil their tenth signing of the summer in the next 24 hours as Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has completed his medical with the Blades on Monday afternoon, as per Football Insider.
The Blades have been chasing Rak-Sakyi over the last few weeks and now it looks like they have finally got their man. The 21-year-old had a host of Championship clubs after him with Palace keen to let him go out on loan in the second tier this season.
Queens Park Rangers, Hull City, Leeds United and Watford all held talks over a possible deal for the right-winger but he has opted to sign for the South Yorkshire outfit after being sold the project by Chris Wilder.
There were some worries surrounding a loan move to United when Southampton lodged a bid for the winger, however Palace refused to enter into a sale negotiation as they still see Rak-Sakyi as one for the future in South London.
This won’t be Rak-Sakyi’s first loan spell; his first loan move came in the 2022/23 campaign where he set League One alight for Charlton Athletic having notched 15 goals and eight assists. Those remarkable performances saw him pick up the supporters’ Player of The Year award.
Wilder would hope to get this one announced quickly so he can be available for the first home Championship match on Saturday afternoon as the Blades take on Queens Park Rangers.
Pulling off this signing would mean the Blades now have a natural winger in the squad and one that can play down either flank as he’s strong with both feet. This would be Chris Wilder’s third loan acquisition of the window – United would have two loan slots left.
Although Sheffield United have 23 players listed on their first team (out of a possible 25), they do not need to submit players that are eligible for U21’s football. That means: Louie Marsh, Andre Brooks, Sydie Peck, Oli Arblaster and Femi Seriki do not legally have to be submitted to the EFL’s squad registration, thus meaning the Blades have another seven squad slots available if needed (six when Rak-Sakyi joins).
Former Sheffield United manager in line for Championship return
In other news, former Blades chief Paul Heckingbottom could be in line for a return to football management and he could face off against Sheffield United this season. After the Blades easily dispatched of Preston North End on the opening night of the campaign, Ryan Lowe has left the club and Heckingbottom is one of the leading candidates to take over at Deepdale, per Alan Nixon.
Sheffield United host the Lilywhites on March 8th so that fixture could be somewhat special given it’d be Chris Wilder vs Paul Heckingbottom.
