AI predicts Sheffield United’s next three signings after summer transfer reveal | OneFootball

After reports suggested Sheffield United were going to focus on using AI for their recruitment this summer, ChatGPT predicts their business.

It has been a disappointing end to the 2024/25 Championship regular season for Sheffield United, with the Blades managing just two victories in their final seven matches as they missed out on the top two and automatic promotion to the Premier League.

As they prepare for a two-legged play-off semi-final against Bristol City in the next week and a half or so, Chris Wilder’s recruitment strategy and the club’s overall policy looks set to change.

Having brought in Peruvian winger Jefferson Caceres and Nigerian attacker Christian Nwachukwu in the winter transfer window with the help of AI, United are now set to turn to an Anglo-American AI talent spotting company headed up by James Bord to find new players for this summer, according to Alan Nixon via his Patreon.

Neither of those two January signings have made much of a contribution to United’s promotion push with Nwachukwu, brought in from Botev Plovdiv, yet to make a first-team squad, whilst Jefferson Caceres, signed from Melgar in Peru, recently made the bench against Stoke City in a 2-0 win but has also yet to feature.

Given United’s apparent new direction in terms of recruitment, Football League World has also looked to AI for who Sheffield United may sign this summer. We asked chatbot ChatGPT the three players most likely to move to Bramall Lane.

Rob Holding

Rob Holding, who came through the academy at Bolton Wanderers before a move to Arsenal in 2016, joined Sheffield United on loan from Crystal Palace in the January transfer window.

The 29-year-old Stalybridge-born centre-back has made ten appearances in the Championship for the Blades and would appear to be a sensible option to bring in, regardless of the division that they find themselves in at the end of this year’s play-off campaign.

Holding’s loan will end after the play-offs and he still has a year left on his current deal at Crystal Palace but has had difficulties in his relationship with Eagles’ boss Oliver Glasner.

Josh Knight

A more rogue suggestion from ChatGPT is that United could well sign former Peterborough United man Josh Knight, who departed English football for the German second-tier last summer.

In what was something of a mini-exodus at Posh, which included Peterborough captain Harrison Burrows himself moving to Bramall Lane, Knight left on a free transfer for 2. Bundesliga side Hannover.

Knight supposedly fits the club model of recruiting adaptable, lower-league talent, according to ChatGPT, and the versatile 27-year-old, who can play in defence and midfield, could well be a target for the South Yorkshire outfit - more-so if they stay in the Championship though, having featured regularly at German second tier level.

Carlos Forbs

Another fairly left-field prediction from ChatGPT is that United could well go after current Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Carlos Forbs from Ajax during this summer’s transfer window.

The 21-year-old Portugal under-21 international came through the academy at Man City before a move to Ajax in 2023. His spell with the Dutch giants remains young but after 32 appearances last season, he joined Wolves on loan for this year.

He has only made ten appearances for Wolves this season with just one start and has only played one minute of their last 15 matches. ChatGPT says he has been under-utilised at a big club and could well be a good option for a season-long loan to Sheffield United, and they could be lacking wingers next season if Ben Brereton Diaz and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi don't sign permanently.