“I would be looking elsewhere” – Sheffield Utd fan pundit offers thoughts on potential transfer deal with Aston Villa man

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sheffield United are still battling for a top six berth come the end of the season, with the Championship play-off race proving as entertaining and enthralling as ever.

The Blades certainly have the ability to do it, but they know they need to be in good form to seal a spot in the final weeks and then they need to take momentum into the play-offs themselves.

Some important matches await, then, but regardless of what happens you would expect a busy summer of signings at the club as Paul Heckingbottom looks to shape his side further.

That said, it’ll be interesting to see what he decides to do with Conor Hourihane with the player currently on loan, though FLW’s Sheffield United Fan Pundit Owain Wyse reckons if the Blades do keep him it should only be as a squad player:

“I think Hourihane is the best we have in terms of left-footed central midfielders, so signing him could improve the team as it is at the moment.

“Having said that he has been in and out of the team and in my opinion I don’t think he is any more than a mid-table championship table player; I would be looking elswhere come the end of the season for a player to start in that role whilst keeping Hourihane in mind as a back-up option.”

The Verdict

Hourihane has bags of quality and in the past he has been a player that has really stood out in the Championship but Owain makes a fair point as, with Hourihane making nearly as many sub appearances (10) as he has starts during his time with the Blades (14) – as per Whoscored.

Paul Heckingbottom will be