Cheap Kalvin Phillips alternative waiting for Sheffield United & Chris Wilder at Hearts | OneFootball

Sheffield United are in the market for a new midfielder this summer, and Hearts' Cammy Devlin could be a shrewd addition on a free transfer.

Chris Wilder is set to make major changes to the Sheffield United squad this summer as he looks to win another promotion with his boyhood club.

The 58-year-old inherited a Blades squad in the relegation zone when he returned to the club last season, and whilst he deserves credit for ensuring they didn’t ever have any genuine fears of dropping to League One, the performances in 2026 have been a frustration.

Therefore, Wilder has promised to oversee a huge rebuild this summer, and work has already started on that front, with loan players returning to their parent clubs, whilst Sheffield United have announced their released list.

Chris Wilder will be targeting midfield reinforcements this summer

There are several areas of the pitch that the Yorkshire outfit will prioritise in the window, and bringing in at least one new midfielder will be among those.

Jairo Riedewald will leave when his contract expires in a matter of weeks, and there are doubts about the future of Sydie Peck.

With Joe Rothwell and Ollie Arblaster still at Bramall Lane, Wilder does have quality in the middle of the park, but reinforcements are required in such an important area.

The boss has already admitted he would like to bring Kalvin Phillips back to the club on loan, but that will depend on Man City’s willingness to do a deal. They would have to pay a significant chunk of his wages, so it’s something that could drag on.

Even so, Phillips’ wages mean any move could still be a decent investment from Sheffield United’s perspective, and, when it’s only on loan, there will be some who doubt whether it’s a sensible decision to try and bring him back. Plus, he didn’t exactly pull up any trees during his time with the club, although injury restricted his impact.

Cammy Devlin would add bite to Sheffield United’s midfield on a free transfer

So, the Blades should be looking at alternatives, and one player who could make a difference for Wilder’s side is Cammy Devlin.

The Australian international, who is set to represent his country at the World Cup, has enjoyed a brilliant individual campaign with Hearts, where they came within minutes of winning the league.

Devlin was a hugely influential player for the Jambos, with his aggression and intensity key to the way the team played.

It’s no coincidence that the two-month period he missed from mid-January saw Hearts wobble, as they lost three of the eight league games he was out, and they were also knocked out of the Scottish Cup. With that in mind, it’s hard not to think that the Edinburgh side could’ve lifted the title had Devlin stayed fit.

Despite his importance to the team, Devlin’s contract is about to expire, and even though Hearts are looking to extend his stay in the capital, there is rival interest for his signature from clubs in America.

But, the chance to join Sheffield United would surely appeal, and you would expect the Blades to offer better terms than any of the clubs in the mix to sign the 27-year-old.

In terms of his game, Devlin has qualities that could benefit Sheffield United. As mentioned, he excels at winning the ball back, and, even though he isn’t the tallest, he relishes the physical side of things, so there would be little doubt about whether he could cope in the Championship.

The way he plays made the ex-Sydney man a firm favourite at Tynecastle, and you would expect the Blades fans to quickly appreciate what Devlin is all about.

Then, when on the ball, Devlin is very efficient, and he could be the ideal foil for the likes of Arblaster or Peck, who would be given more freedom to get forward alongside him.

We know that Sheffield United need to be smart with their recruitment this summer, as they don’t have the biggest budget, and Wilder will need to wheel and deal.