Exclusive: Sheffield United plotting Burnley FC transfer raid before 7pm | OneFootball

Sheffield United are eyeing up a loan deal for Burnley defender Joe Worrall ahead of this evening's 7pm deadline, Football League World has learned

Sheffield United have only made one brand-new signing throughout the mid-season transfer window amid Chris Wilder's efforts to reduce the squad size at his disposal, but Football League World can now exclusively reveal that a fresh addition from Burnley could be coming to Bramall Lane before this evening's swiftly-approaching 7pm deadline.

The Blades' mismatched summer recruitment spree under the leadership of ex-boss Ruben Selles left Wilder with a bloated - and underperforming - squad upon his return to the club, and no shortage of outgoings have been sanctioned in recent weeks.

Both Louie Barry and Ben Godfrey saw their deals from Aston Villa and Atalanta respectively cut short, while the likes of Ehjie Ukaki and Nils Zatterstrom have also departed Bramall Lane in temporary exits.

Ki-Jana Hoever remains the club's sole new arrival, having joined from Wolves for the remainder of the campaign, with Patrick Bamford and Jairo Riedewald both putting pen to paper on longer-term contracts after their short-term deals ran their course.

However, Wilder is bidding to further bolster his squad in the remaining hours of the window. The Blades have already been linked with moves for Leo Hjelde and Barnsley wide-man Reyes Cleary, and FLW has learned of another target in the red-and-white quarters of the Steel City ahead of 7pm.

Sheffield United eyeing up Burnley FC, Joe Worrall loan transfer

Football League World can exclusively reveal that the player in question is Burnley's Joe Worrall, who has emerged as a late-window target for Sheffield United as they seek to shore up their backline.

FLW understands that the basis of any potential deal would be a loan move, with spots having been freed up following the aforementioned exits of Barry and Godfrey - though Hoever has filled one.

Sources have informed FLW that United are facing significant competition to complete a deal, though, with an undisclosed host of clubs believed to share their admiration of Worrall as tonight's deadline looms.

The 29-year-old central defender could be on his way out of Burnley in the coming hours, having found regular game-time hard to come by in the Premier League this term.

Worrall, who joined the Clarets from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2024, featured sporadically last time out as his side returned to the top-flight as runners-up behind Leeds United and has started just one of his six appearances in the 2025/26 campaign to date, sitting behind the likes of Maxime Esteve, Hjamlar Ekdal, Bashir Humphreys and Axel Tuanzebe in Scott Parker's pecking order.

The Blades already have a glut of options in the centre of defence, with Tyler Bindon, Mark McGuinness, Ben Mee and Japhet Tanganga ensuring that area of the pitch is well-stocked for Wilder.

However, only three sides in the Championship have currently let in more goals than United's 42, meaning Worrall's extensive Championship pedigree and experience from his stints at Forest and Burnley could be much-welcomed as Wilder plots a late-season play-off charge.