Sheffield United are preparing for their first Championship campaign without Premier League parachute payments since earning promotion under Chris Wilder in 2018/19, meaning the club are expected to focus heavily on trimming their squad and lowering one of the division’s biggest wage bills this summer.
Several senior players have already departed Bramall Lane, with Tom Davies, Ben Mee, Danny Ings and Jairo Riedewald all leaving following the expiration of their contracts. Mee has since confirmed his retirement, while the exits are expected to ease financial pressure on the club.
More departures are likely as Wilder looks to reshape a squad that had become overcrowded before his return last September. One player whose future appears uncertain is defender Mark McGuinness, according to reports from the Sheffield Star.
McGuinness joined the Blades from Luton Town on deadline day last summer after the Hatters had reportedly spent around £10 million to sign him a year earlier. The centre-back signed a four-year deal but endured a difficult first season in South Yorkshire.
Thrown into a struggling side under former boss Ruben Selles, McGuinness made his first start in a heavy defeat to Ipswich Town — a result that ultimately led to Selles’ dismissal. Although he initially remained in the side after Wilder’s return, inconsistent performances and poor results saw him lose his place as the campaign progressed.
His opportunities became increasingly limited once Tyler Bindon established himself in the team, with McGuinness spending long periods out of the starting lineup during the second half of the season. He only returned regularly towards the end of the campaign, when Sheffield United’s hopes of mounting a serious play-off push had effectively faded.
Those final matches were viewed as an opportunity for Wilder to assess his squad ahead of next season, but current indications suggest McGuinness may not feature prominently in the manager’s long-term plans.
The defender’s uncertain future also highlights what many view as a disappointing recruitment drive last summer. Reports suggested Sheffield United’s transfer strategy leaned heavily on AI-driven analysis following Wilder’s initial departure after a 92-point season, but several signings struggled to make an impact.
Players such as Ehije Ukaki and Mihail Polendakov failed to feature in the league, while loanees Louie Barry and Ben Godfrey were largely overlooked under Wilder. Tyler Bindon also appeared close to being sidelined before eventually forcing his way back into contention.
Nils Zatterstrom and Alex Matos similarly struggled for involvement, with Zatterstrom spending the second half of the campaign on loan at Genoa.
McGuinness still ended the season as one of Sheffield United’s most-used summer signings despite making only 25 league appearances, which underlines how underwhelming the club’s transfer business proved to be overall. Japhet Tanganga was widely regarded as the standout addition from that window.
With Wilder now overseeing preparations from the beginning of the summer, Sheffield United will hope for a far more successful recruitment strategy ahead of next season.
