"It's a worry for Chris Wilder" - Pundit reacts to new Sheffield United takeover update | OneFootball

The Blades have been hoping for a change in ownership since the summer.

Sheffield United have been urged by Carlton Palmer to get the takeover situation resolved in time for the January window after revelations of an EFL stumbling block.

American businessman Steve Rosen is reported to have agreed a deal with the Blades' current owner, Prince Abdullah, to buy the Championship club, but it is by no means signed, sealed or delivered yet.

Before Rosen can complete his takeover and become the latest US-based investor in an English football team, the EFL need him to guarantee funding for United for the next two seasons, according to Alan Nixon.

To do so, he is said to be looking for a new investor to join his consortium to help provide the funds required to satisfy the EFL, plus provide a bit of a boost for the upcoming January window.

Carlton Palmer urges Sheffield United to find takeover resolution quickly

The takeover of the club has been a long time coming. There was hope that it could get done in the summer, but that previously proposed deal fell through before Rosen got involved. This affected their ability to sign striker target Ricky-Jade Jones from Peterborough United this summer.

Up front may be an area in which the Blades look to strengthen in the new year, but the takeover will need to be completed by then for that to happen. Palmer, a former EFL and England international midfielder, has told Football League World that the dragging out of this situation will worry the club's manager, who is looking to guide them to promotion.

He said: "Another twist in the ongoing saga of Steve Rosen potentially buying Sheffield United. Apparently now the American is seeking additional financial backing to satisfy the requirements of the English Football League.

"Rosen is said to have agreed to purchase the Blades in a deal reportedly worth £105 million, but he's been asked by the EFL to provide guarantees for funding over the next two seasons.

"While this deal seemed imminent a few weeks ago, there's now another twist in the development that has delayed it, with him looking for potential backers.

"Nothing is ever straightforward for United, but it's a worry for Chris Wilder, I'm sure. I know Chris just gets on with his job, but he's level on points with Sunderland, they have, as we've seen against Sheffield Wednesday, struggled when the likes of Kieffer Moore have been out of the team. He has a good one to eleven, and then he's basically got kids on the bench.

"What he wants to do is go out and strengthen. They are in a fantastic position and this is why you want to buy the football club, because you want to be back in the Premier League.

"So whatever happens, this deal needs to be over the line so that Wilder, who, I'm sure, will have already identified areas of the pitch that he wants to bring players in, and has already identified those players that he would like to bring to the football club in the January transfer window.

"But it's getting very, very close and a deal needs to be ratified and put in place so Wilder can go and get the reinforcements that he needs to keep this campaign going the way that it is and get promotion."

Up front should definitely be a target area for Sheffield United in January

The clear strength of this Blades side is its defence. Goalkeeper Michael Cooper has the joint-most clean sheets (9) in the league after 15 games, they've conceded the second-fewest goals per game (0.46) and the second-fewest expected goals (xG) conceded (11.8), as per FotMob.

They're going to pick up points regularly because of their solid nature, but they do need to be more effective in attacking areas. They've actually outperformed their xG this season, scoring 19 from an xG of 16.9. So it's not the finishing of chances that could be the problem, it's the quality of chances that they're creating.

An xG 16.9 puts them 16th in the Championship for this metric. The only team in the top 10 that ranks lower than them is Burnley, who have an xG of 14.9.