Exclusive: Sky pundit drops Sheffield United claim on Wrexham AFC star - 'I'm not sure they appreciated what they had' | OneFootball

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman spoke exclusively to Football League World on Kieffer Moore following his summer switch from Sheffield United to Wrexham

Kieffer Moore has been among the most dangerous marksmen in the Championship throughout the last five years, providing a frequent source of both goals and brute force — but Sheffield United were perhaps left underwhelmed by the Welsh international forward.

When the Blades acquired Moore's services from AFC Bournemouth in the summer of 2024, it was hoped that he would provide the physical edge and goalscoring pedigree to fire Chris Wilder's side back to the Premier League at the very first attempt after suffering relegation alongside Burnley and Luton Town.

He had, after all, proved instrumental in Ipswich Town's ascension just months prior, scoring seven goals from 18 games in the second-half of the 2023/24 campaign to help the Tractor Boys to successive promotions under Kieran McKenna.

Moore had also been prolific for the likes of Wigan Athletic and Cardiff City prior to his ill-fated switch to Bournemouth in 2022, though it never quite worked out for the rangy striker at Bramall Lane. From 27 league appearances — 18 of which were starts — Moore returned just five strikes, lost his place to ex-Stoke City attacker Tyrese Campbell and, most notably of all, gifted Tommy Watson's last-grasp winner for Sunderland in last season's play-off final at Wembley with a sloppy backpass, playing the winger through to break United hearts.

Following just one season in the Steel City, Moore was moved on by Ruben Selles — who was brought in to replace Wilder after the play-off final defeat, only to be sacked and replaced by the Yorkshireman months later — with the Spaniard selling him to freshly-promoted Wrexham for £2 million.

Moore, however, has proved a revelation in North Wales, having scored nine goals across all competitions already, including a hattrick in the Red Dragons' thrilling 3-2 victory over league leaders Coventry City, and one must wonder whether the Blades, in light of their persisting struggles infront of goal and at the wrong end of the Championship table, may now have some regrets over sanctioning his sale to a divisional rival.

Don Goodman drops Sheffield United claim on Wrexham AFC's Kieffer Moore

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert Don Goodman has debated whether Sheffield United appreciated what they had with Moore, and suggested the South Yorkshire outfit failed to play to the imposing striker's strengths.

Goodman, however, described how Wrexham have managed to do that under Phil Parkinson — meaning the rediscovery of his goalscoring mojo at the StoK CaE Ras is no coincidence — and in his view, as a former striker himself for the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Wolves, Moore's physical stature has always made him an "absolute nightmare" to defend against.

"The Kieffer Moore debate always rumbles on, as it does with big, tall, physical strikers like that," Goodman explained to FLW.

"They seem to be dying out of fashion, but he always seems to be effective.

"I think the problem at Sheffield United was that he wasn't particularly loved by the fans. I'm not sure they appreciated what they actually had, or whether Sheffield United played to his strengths.

"Wrexham certainly are doing that, hence the goals return, the nuisance value, the assists. He is a handful, and his sheer physical size must make him an absolute nightmare to try and defend against.

"Wrexham recognise that, they play very much to his strengths and they're reaping the benefits of that."

Kieffer Moore is proving doubters wrong at Wrexham AFC after Sheffield United exit

Moore represented something of a divisive figure at Sheffield United, and Goodman is right to point out that he never quite earned the buy-in and adoration from the Bramall Lane faithful. He is, however, adored in North Wales these days, just as he was in the Welsh capital with Cardiff supporters up until his controversial switch to Bournemouth.

No shortage of Blades fans must be surprised to see Moore in such rich goalscoring form after often firing blanks in the Steel City last term, and he's still going strong despite turning 33 back in August.

Moore has proved people wrong throughout his career and, at his age, is showing few signs of letting up — should his form continue, Wrexham will be so glad to have completed this deal while United may be haunted by a tinge of what could've, and should've been.