Chris Wilder is ready to show brutal Sheffield United transfer approach - now he is taking huge risk | OneFootball

Chris Wilder is preparing to show his ruthless side at Sheffield United, but the signing of Patrick Bamford would be a big gamble.

It is fair to say Chris Wilder's return to Sheffield United has not gone as well as he would have hoped so far, and he is preparing to make some big transfer calls in an attempt to turn his side's season around.

After losing to Sunderland in last season's play-off final, Sheffield United made the controversial call to replace Wilder with Ruben Selles in June, but the decision backfired spectacularly.

Selles was sacked in September after losing all of his six games in charge in all competitions, and just 89 days after his shock summer dismissal, Wilder made a sensational return to Bramall Lane for a third spell with the Blades.

After winning just one of his first four games, it looked as though United were turning a corner under Wilder following back-to-back wins over Watford and Blackburn Rovers in October, but his side have picked up just one point from their four matches since then, which has increased fears of a possible relegation battle.

The Blades currently sit 22nd in the Championship table, three points from safety, and they face a crucial Steel City derby meeting with bottom side Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough after the international break, with the game looking like a must-win for Wilder's men as their predicament continues to worsen.

With the busy winter period approaching, Wilder will know results are needed over the coming months if United are to avoid being dragged deeper into a survival fight, but while his main focus will be on the upcoming games, it seems he is already plotting an overhaul of his squad.

Chris Wilder preparing ruthless triple Sheffield United transfer call in January

While there has been a slight improvement from the disastrous Selles era, Sheffield United's performances and results since Wilder's return have been nowhere near the standards he demands from his side, and it seems he is in no mood to mess around when it comes to making big decisions on the future of some of his squad.

As FLW exclusively revealed last week, Wilder is planning to terminate the loans of defenders Ben Godfrey and Tyler Bindon and forward Louie Barry once the winter window opens in order to reduce the size of his bloated squad and create space for potential new arrivals.

Godfrey has not been involved in a single matchday squad since starting Wilder's first game back against Charlton Athletic in September, with the Blades boss mysteriously describing him as simply "unavailable" when quizzed over his situation last month, while Bindon is yet to feature under the 58-year-old, and Barry has been limited to mainly substitute appearances.

Bindon and Barry played under Selles previously at Reading and Hull City respectively, and it would be safe to assume that both were signings championed by the Spaniard, so it is not particularly surprising that they have been deemed surplus to requirements by Wilder.

However, given his preference for experienced players, Godfrey looked like he would have been perfect for a Wilder team, but the lack of explanation about his first-team exile has certainly raised a few eyebrows, and his appearance for United's Under-21 side in their game against Wigan Athletic last week suggests he is not injured.

Chris Wilder could be set to take big Sheffield United gamble amid Patrick Bamford talk

While the loans of Godfrey, Bindon and Barry are all set to be terminated in January, it appears Wilder is not prepared to wait until the window to make changes to his Sheffield United squad.

It has been revealed that the Blades are in talks to sign free agent Patrick Bamford on an initial short-term deal, with the striker still without a club after his contract at Leeds United was cancelled by mutual consent back in August.

Bamford scored 60 goals in 205 games during a successful seven-year spell at Elland Road, but he failed to get on the scoresheet during the Whites' Championship title-winning campaign last season, and he departed in acrimonious circumstances after manager Daniel Farke publicly confirmed that he would not be part of his plans in the Premier League.

After links with Championship trio Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Wrexham and La Liga side Getafe failed to come to anything, Bamford has been training with Coventry City in recent weeks to help maintain his fitness while he continues his search for a new home, but he could now be set to be handed a lifeline by United.

Having netted just 11 league goals so far this season, the Blades are the lowest scorers in the Championship, and of their existing strikers, only Tyrese Campbell has found the back of the net, with Tom Cannon, Danny Ings and Ryan One still waiting to open their accounts for the campaign.

With that in mind, it is easy to see why Wilder is keen to bring in extra firepower as he looks to guide his side up the table, but there are question marks over whether signing Bamford, who has not scored a single goal since April 2024, will be the answer to the United's problems, and his poor injury record in recent years is another big cause for concern, with the striker spending over three months on the sidelines last season due to a hamstring issue.

After Wilder infamously referred to Bamford as a "muppet" in 2019, the former England international responded by leading a less than complimentary chant against the Blades boss earlier this year after Leeds secured promotion, so it is something of a surprise that they could be set to link up at Bramall Lane, and there could be fireworks between the pair if the move does not work out.

If Wilder can get Bamford fit and firing again, he could be a real asset for his side over the coming months, but his recent history suggests United would be taking a big gamble if they were to offer him a contract.