Chris Wilder backed to seal triple Sheffield United transfer axe involving Louie Barry - It's "the right move" | OneFootball

Sheffield United are planning on terminating a series of loan deals in the January transfer window

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Sheffield United could be set to send back three of their loan players in the January transfer window, in what is a damning indictment of their summer business under previous head coach Ruben Selles.

The Blades have suffered a disastrous opening third of the 2025/26 campaign, after coming within touching distance of a Premier League return last term.

Ruben Selles was dismissed after losing his first six matches in charge, making way for a sensational third stint as United manager for Chris Wilder.

The Steel City side’s woes haven’t stopped following Wilder’s return however, as the odd positive result has been marred with defeats to teams such as Preston North End, Derby County and Coventry City, leaving the South Yorkshire outfit struggling at the wrong end of the second tier standings.

With the Blades still lurking around the lower regions of the Championship table, drastic action must be taken in January and that is exactly what United’s boss is planning on doing.

"Not yet convinced" - No surprises as Sheffield United plan to terminate trio of loans

Football League World recently exclusively revealed that United’s boss was looking to make a number of changes in the January transfer window, which includes cancelling loan deals for Louie Barry, Tyler Bindon and Ben Godfrey.

Given the reputation that some of these players arrived at Bramall Lane with, it could come as somewhat of a shock to see their temporary stays at the club ending earlier than planned.

However, when queried on the matter, Football League World’s Sheffield United fan pundit, Jimmy (AKA Blades Ramble), wasn’t shocked to hear that Wilder was considering making such a decision in the upcoming winter window.

“None of the three going back would surprise me,” Jimmy told FLW.

“But I think you have to ask why it hasn’t worked out.

“Barry had a decent opportunity in the first team and it just hasn’t worked. I'm not yet convinced there is a Championship-level player.

"He's shown nothing to Sheffield United fans as to why he should be in and around the first team. I don't think he's got the pace or the power at the level, unfortunately. So I think sending him back is the right move.

“Ben Godfrey had personal issues and that is something that cannot be helped. It's not been disclosed what those are and the club are right to respect his privacy on that. So that's just an unfortunate circumstance around Ben Godfrey. We know there's a good footballer in there.

“Tyler Bindon got off to a really tricky start under Ruben Selles and appeared to struggle.

“However, if we are to shift to a three at the back, I think he'd be a reasonable option for us now that we've got a little bit more of a solid foundation under Chris Wilder. But that ship may have sailed for him.”

Sheffield United haven’t provided the best platform for loan trio

Unarguably, Barry, Bindon and Godfrey have all failed to perform at the level required to feature regularly in the Championship, which is why Wilder is considering taking such drastic action in January.

However, loan players, especially when they are young, need a solid, stable environment to go into, which allows them to perform at their best.

Quite the opposite situation faced Barry, Bindon and Godfrey at Bramall Lane, as they have had to contend with managerial changes and a shellshocked dressing room that hadn’t been performing at its best.

All three of these operators have previously excelled in loan moves at other clubs, which shows that their inability to do so with the Blades must have something to do with the environment they are working in.

Although poor performances on the pitch can’t simply be excused, Sheffield United must take some accountability in the failure of this loan trio’s time in the Steel City.