Sheffield United eyeing up transfer swoop for £14m Crystal Palace man | OneFootball

Sheffield United are plotting a loan move for Crystal Palace defender Chadi Riad.

Sheffield United are keen to utilise the loan market to bolster their play-off chances, with a remarkable turnaround required at Bramall Lane in the second-half of the season.

The Blades remain just 17th in the Championship, nine points adrift of the top six, despite Saturday's impressive 3-1 win over automatic promotion chasers Ipswich Town.

Chris Wilder's men have struggled for consistency this term, and will have to be at their best again next weekend, as they travel to fifth-place Millwall.

Meanwhile, the South Yorkshire outfit have strengthened their squad in the January transfer window by signing Ki-Jana Hoever on loan from Wolves, but Wilder is keen to add more quality to his ranks after sanctioning a number of departures in recent times.

Sheffield United eye loan move for Crystal Palace man Chadi Riad

Sheffield United failed to keep a clean sheet once again in their victory over Ipswich and have now conceded 39 goals in 28 Championship matches.

Consequently, the Bramall Lane club are eager to bolster their defence before the transfer window closes.

According to Alan Nixon via Patreon, Crystal Palace are ready to send centre-back Chadi Riad out on loan for game time, and the Blades are at the front of the queue for his signature.

The 22-year-old has recently returned from an ACL injury, but may struggle for minutes with the Eagles senior team, even though fellow centre-back Marc Guehi joined Manchester City.

Riad should be keen on the move to South Yorkshire, as regular game time in the Championship could put him in contention to represent Morocco in this summer's World Cup.

Chadi Riad signing could be a real coup for Chris Wilder

The Blades have one of the best frontlines in the Championship despite their lowly league position, enjoying the services of clinical strikers such as Patrick Bamford and quality playmakers Gustavo Hamer and Callum O'Hare.

However, to launch a serious play-off bid, Sheffield United need to strengthen their defence this month.

Acquiring Palace's Riad on loan from the Selhurst Park outfit may be a very fruitful move for the South Yorkshire side, who could get the best out of him.

Riad's talent is perhaps epitomised by his senior appearance for his former club Barcelona in the 2022/23 La Liga season, while he has also earned two caps for Morocco.

Before joining Palace in the summer of 2024 for a reported £14 million figure, the 22-year-old spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Real Betis, making 26 appearances in the Spanish top flight and two in the Conference League.

Those lofty credentials show that Riad has the potential to prove himself as one of the best defenders in the Championship and help the Blades challenge for a top-six spot.

If Riad signs for Wilder's men in time, he could prove to be a real asset in their upcoming clash with Millwall, and for the remainder of the campaign as a whole.

The Lions showed their class with a 4-0 win over local rivals Charlton Athletic on Saturday, and will head into their encounter with the Blades full of confidence.

Riad could be tasked with helping Sheffield United keep the likes of Camiel Neghli and Femi Azeez at bay, following their strong performances against Charlton.