Sheffield United transfer rumours rated including Tommy Doyle, James McAtee and Anis Slimane

Sheffield United are yet to open their transfer business for this summer but they have already been credited with interest in a number of players from England and in Europe. Reports have linked Paul Heckingbottom’s men with around a dozen players so far.

Some of those links look to have credibility, while others we can rule out. Heckingbottom has revealed that ‘loans and free transfers are going to be big’, while owner Prince Abdullah has made it clear that all permanent arrivals must fit a transfer blueprint of being young and with plenty of potential.

Those players arriving on loan must also command a regular first-team spot as the Blades boss looks to strengthen his squad ahead of the coming Premier League campaign. As part of head of recruitment Paul Mitchell’s search for new talent, he will have touched base with an endless list of agents and clubs, enquiring over availability and cost.

Those names, after consultation with the manager, are then whittled down on to a shortlist for CEO Stephen Bettis and head of football admin Carl Shieber to work on. So while a lot of links may be genuine, it doesn’t mean United are taking those names after the original contact any further.

So with that in mind, of those transfer rumours that have emerged to date, which of those have the potential to appear genuine and which ones can we rule out?

Doyle and McAtee
The obvious starting point. Heckingbottom has already revealed he wants them both to return and plans to hold talks with Man City over their intentions with the pair.

We can therefore, from the horse’s mouth, put these two into the genuine column. With only one loan available from the same club in the Premier League, Heckingbottom would have to purchase one of these.

Reports have suggested Pep Guardiola wants McAtee to remain around the first-team squad for the summer, while Doyle revealed last week he is in no rush to leave the Etihad and wants a year’s experience in the Premier League before deciding on his future.

With City targeting a number of midfielders already, Doyle’s desire for Premier League football certainly opens the door for a return. He told Yorkshire Live before leaving for the summer that he would love to come back to Sheffield United, so this one has legs.

Given Doyle’s comments, a loan looks the most obvious option, unless City make him available for transfer and United can put together a financial package to lure him back.

Conor Coady
A fairly reasonable link and more than understandable, if true, why United would look at him. He could be available again to leave Molineux having spent last season on loan at Everton.

Coady brings the experience Heckingbottom is looking for and his versatility in defence and midfield would be a huge asset. Coady wants to stay at Wolves and is set for talks before it becomes known what is likely to happen.

Carney Chukwuemeka
The Chelsea midfielder fits the profile for what Heckingbottom is looking for and the Blades boss has already revealed he is hoping his success with Doyle and McAtee will persuade some of the bigger clubs to part with their young stars on loan.

So this could certainly have credibility to it. Should the 19-year-old be made available for loan, we can expect United to register their interest. However, strong links from Italy suggest AC Milan are wanting to make a move also, so United face serious competition.

Anis Slimane
In the mould of Anel Ahmedhodzic, so you can see why this link is reasonable. Just 22-years-old, in the final year of his contract and available at a fraction of his potential value.

The Brondby midfielder could well be on United’s list of targets, ticking the majority of boxes that Heckingbottom has set out in his transfer criteria.

Haris Belkebla
A free agent having left French Ligue 1 side Brest and with Heckingbottom’s admission they are in the market for free transfers, Belkebla is the only free agent link to have emerged so far.

The midfielder turns 30 halfway through the season and doesn’t fit the profile that Prince Abdullah outlined when talking about the plan for the coming campaign. Belkebla also revealed that he had seen the rumours of United’s interest but ‘wasn’t aware’, as if to suggest there was no credibility in this link.

However, he did go on to admit that he would be open to a move should United be interested.

David Carmo (Porto)
Surprise link. The Porto central defender only arrived at the Portuguese giants in the summer following a 22.5 million euros switch from Braga. Has fallen out of favour with the manager following an unnecessary red card but would be an expensive signing if reports of interest are genuine.

United could be looking to tempt them with a cheeky loan offer though in a bid to put him in the shop window if his future at the club is in doubt but also included in the report was interest from West Ham and Wolves, meaning if he was available United could face serious interest.

Lewis O’Brien
This link has plenty of credibility. Mitchell has had him on United’s radar before when at Huddersfield before he joined Nottingham Forest and having not been in Steve Cooper’s plans during the second half of the season, a deal could well be a possibility.

Likely to get him at a good price too if he is surplus to requirements but may have to wait until his season on loan at MLS side DC United ends next month. Wayne Rooney also wants him.

Habib Diallo
Can understand this link. United have looked at Ligue 1 players before, with Ahmedhodzic spending time at Bordeaux before joining the Blades and a striker is understood to be on Heckingbottom’s list.

Diallo has been a big player for Strasbourg, scoring 21 goals in 38 games, so the attraction is there. Some big teams, with the likes of West Ham and Newcastle, have been linked with him already and he’s just turned 28.

If United are in for him, this could be an expensive package and they won’t be able to compete if other clubs do show their hand.

Nico Gonzalez
The most bizarre one yet. The Fiorentina forward has been linked with United but having rejected a £25m offer from Leicester in January, the Serie A club are wanting a fee around the £30m mark. We can suggest this is wide of the mark.

Kyle Walker
Would be a dream move. Wants to come back to United and could leave Man City this summer, but with the clubs chasing him and his form still ,despite being 33, would suggest a reunion may be further away than this summer.

Faitout Maouassa
The left wing-back spent last season on loan at Montpellier in Ligue 1 on loan from Club Brugge. Only 24 and Heckingbottom could well be in the market for another player in this area following the departure of Enda Stevens.

Another one that fits the bill and likely has credibility again.

Arthur Masuaku
Not sure about this one. Aged 29, turns 30 during the season and having spent the last campaign on loan at Besiktas from West Ham, the Turkish side made his move permanent for £2m at the end of the campaign.

Bizarre that he should then be linked with a move away.

Mostafa Mohamed
The most recent one but, similar to Masuaku, this one doesn’t make sense. The striker spent the season on loan at Nantes, who have spent £6m to turn his loan into a permanent only this month. United have been credited with an interest in bringing him to Bramall Lane, along with Lille, but it would be a difficult deal to do given Nantes have signed him.