Sheffield United must be losing hope with Brighton transfer - They could be outmuscled | OneFootball

The Blades could lose out in the race to land Amario Cozier-Duberry

At the start of the season, nobody saw the predicament which has transpired at Sheffield United coming, with the Blades still in the relegation zone heading into the November international break.

After being one of the Championship's standout sides last term, despite missing out on an instant return to the Premier League, the Steel City side were tipped to mount another promotion bid in what is the first full season of COH Sports' ownership at Bramall Lane.

However, they are still in grave danger of heading back to League One for the first time since 2017, with Chris Wilder still unable to get a tune out of a squad which had overseen some change during the disastrous six-game reign of Ruben Selles compared to the one which he led out in last season's play-off final defeat to Sunderland.

With United accumulating just 10 points in as many games since the 58-year-old's return, it has been enough to see them jump off the bottom of the division - a position now occupied by their cross-city rivals due to off-pitch developments - yet not enough to see them bridge the gap between themselves and the sides currently above water, never mind progress up the table.

As such, Wilder has continuously spoken about making sweeping changes to a top-heavy squad in January, which makes a raft of incomings and departures inevitable.

As Football League World exclusively revealed recently, the trio of Ben Godfrey, Tyler Bindon and Louie Barry are to all see their loan deals terminated, allowing for movement on that particular front.

However, the Blades could still falter in their aims of landing a replacement for Barry, who, like he was this time last year, is ripping League One apart.

Amario Cozier-Duberry is currently the starlet writing constant headlines in League One for Bolton Wanderers on loan from Premier League side, Brighton and Hove Albion.

The former Arsenal academy graduate's current parent club has become synonymous with developing homegrown talents, with the 20-year-old the latest name to fall into said category.

Indeed, Cozier-Duberry is no stranger to the Championship, albeit his spell with Blackburn Rovers last season proved underwhelming with one goal in 22 league appearances. Yet, it is Steven Schumacher and the promotion-chasing Whites who are well and truly reaping the rewards of his latest temporary move away from the AMEX Stadium.

The England Under-20 international was one of several incomings to a new-look squad at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, and hasn't looked back since marking his home debut against Plymouth Argyle with an assist.

The Londoner has since added several high-quality goals to his showreel, such as dramatic late strikes against Leyton Orient, Cardiff city and Huddersfield Town, forming part of an attack which has scored 23 times in 15 games, with the winger responsible for 13 of those through six goals and seven assists.

However, his ability to see out the season in the North West was plunged into doubt in September when United were reportedly interested in a loan swoop, before Blades chief scout, Jamie Hoyland, saw him shine against Wigan Athletic in a 4-1 success.

His latest victims were Port Vale, with the loanee at the double in both goals and assists, with Bolton now up to third in the division as they hope to end what would be a seven-year hiatus from the Championship.

Sheffield United could face huge issue in Brighton, Amario Cozier-Duberry transfer pursuit

Much like the predicament which the aforementioned Barry found himself in last January ahead of a move to then-lowly Hull City, a plethora of sides fighting for promotion or a play-off place looked to front the lengthy queue for his signature.

At present, Cozier-Duberry is proving a cut above many of his Bolton and League One counterparts, meaning Schumacher could be helpless if Fabian Hürzeler decides to take a cruel course of action from their point of view, and look to see if his form could maintain itself in the Championship and prove certain skeptics wrong.

Given his form, it would surprise very few if there wasn't a race consisting of at least five clubs for his services on a temporary basis, particularly those looking to add to or tweak their attacking options ahead of a season-defining period.

Of course, Wilder would hope he would choose a switch to S2 and help the Blades pull away from the relegation mire, but the club's recent record with loanees is hardly inspiring to justify such a decision from Brighton or Cozier-Duberry on an individual level.