Ex-Leeds United man tipped for Sheffield United exit - Oxford and Portsmouth must pounce this summer | OneFootball

Jamie Shackleton looks set to leave Sheffield United this summer after his omission from their EFL squad list

Jamie Shackleton's time at Sheffield United has gone far from planned, with the former Leeds United man having been omitted from the Blades' EFL squad list for the remainder of the campaign.

Having progressed through the ranks at Leeds United, Shackleton's career has failed to take off.

Now 26, he finds himself unable to play in a league game for the rest of the season after being omitted from Sheffield United's 25-man EFL squad list.

Shackleton made his professional debut for his boyhood club in August 2018 under Marcelo Bielsa, and would feature more often than not from the bench in his first professional season.

However, he never nailed down a starting berth at Elland Road during his six years in and around the first team, and aside from a loan to Millwall for the 2022/23 season, he has never earned consistent minutes across a campaign.

A free switch to Sheffield United in the summer of 2024 had sparked hope that he may finally become the player he was once touted to be.

Though just over 300 minutes in 15 appearances have followed, and now, with his career in limbo, a permanent exit from Bramall Lane this summer is surely a foregone conclusion, with FLW's United fan pundit Jimmy of The Blades Ramble claiming that the versatile midfielder should navigate a way out of the club in the summer, despite having a year left on his contract.

Shackleton, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, must find a home where he can become a mainstay in a side, and FLW has taken a look at two clubs that should pounce at the chance of signing him this summer.

Oxford United

Oxford United find themselves in the midst of a relegation battle, with Gary Rowett's tenure in charge of the O's coming to a disappointing end.

Former Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield was the person to take the reins at the Kassam Stadium, though with one of, if not the smallest budgets in the second tier, the club has been up against it since minute one.

Oxford's midfield is arguably the strongest part of their side, boasting the likes of Cameron Brannagan, Brian De Keersmaecker, Will Vaulks, and Myles Peart-Harris in the centre of the park.

Though inevitably, teams around the Championship will come to test the club's resolve for these players, especially if they are indeed relegated.

Should the O's find their midfield to be picked apart in the upcoming summer, they could do a lot worse than bringing Shackleton to the club.

Despite his injury woes, the former Leeds United man is still a supremely talented midfielder, and can certainly do a stellar job in the Championship if he can stay fit, and would surely be amongst the best in League One, if Oxford do unfortunately find themselves there next season.

Portsmouth, like Oxford, have one of the smallest budgets in the division, and find themselves hovering around the bottom reaches of the Championship table.

Pompey have been under the guidance of John Mousinho since January 2023, with the 39-year-old only having managed the South Coast outfit during his young coaching career thus far.

Mousinho, by all accounts, has done a fantastic job at Fratton Park over the past few seasons, and his aim this season will be to retain Portsmouth's Championship place for next campaign.

With Conor Chaplin on loan, Marlon Pack now 34, and John Swift seemingly not favoured, Pompey could do with another body or two in the midfield heading into next season.

Andre Dozzell and Ebou Adams will likely remain with the club regardless of what division they find themselves in next year, as with Mark Kosznovszky, who damaged his cruciate ligament earlier this campaign, putting him out until next season.

Pompey, with a small budget, should seriously consider Shackleton as a potential summer target to bolster their ranks in the middle of the park. If he can stay fit, the 26-year-old can certainly provide strong competition for a starting berth in the club's midfield.