Sheffield United: Fabio Carvalho transfer makes sense as Brentford connection made | OneFootball

Chris Wilder and Keith Andrews have a clear, good relationship, and that should be exploited even further this summer

Sheffield United have confirmed their first signing of the summer transfer window, as Romelle Donovan joined on loan from Brentford.

The 19-year-old has clear potential and was on the fringes of action in the Premier League last season for the Europe-chasing Bees. Overall, he made nine appearances in all competitions.

In announcing the deal for Donovan, Blades boss Chris Wilder credited the endorsement of both Brentford head coach Keith Andrews and coach Jack Lester, who Wilder states are "two individuals we know and respect from their time working here."

Indeed, both the Bees boss and his assistant came from Sheffield United. Andrews was a member of the backroom staff during Wilder's second stint as Blades manager in 2023 before he left for Brentford at the end of the season, while Lester enjoyed a six-year stay between 2019 and 2025 as a coach in both the youth and first team squads.

Evidently, the glowing review of those at Brentford helped persuade Sheffield United to go and get him, and the fact that Andrews knows that he's in good hands is a factor in them choosing Bramall Lane as the perfect place for the 19-year-old to continue his progression.

Chris Wilder should definitely be using that connection to secure another deal this summer.

Sheffield United should try to sign Fabio Carvalho this summer

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Fabio Carvalho has had a difficult time at Brentford since arriving from Liverpool in the summer of 2024, especially this past season, which ended in November after he tore his ACL.

It was reported in March that the Bees were planning on moving the 23-year-old this summer, but with him costing the club up to £27.5 million just a couple of years ago, they'd struggle to make anything close to that, given he's coming off the back of such a serious injury and played just 33 times in the 15 months before that.

A loan move could be explored to bring him back to speed, and Sheffield United should definitely try to use their contacts at Brentford to put themselves at the front of the queue.

Carvalho has a glowing record in the Championship, whether that be with the incredibly entertaining Fulham side in 2021/22, which prompted Liverpool to sign him, or his loan spell at Hull City in 2024, which led to his move to Brentford.

In the full season at the level with Fulham, the Portuguese attacking midfielder scored 10 and assisted eight in 36 outings, and even off the back of such a serious injury, there's all the likelihood that he could replicate close to those numbers in a single season back in the second tier.

Additionally, in his 33 games at Brentford, he's still managed 10 goal involvements, with the majority of those appearances coming via late bench cameos. He's still got top-flight potential, but perhaps a season in the second tier could help him rediscover that.

Fabio Carvalho would help strengthen Sheffield United's forward line next season

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If there's one place that Sheffield United don't need to target next season, it's a central attacking midfielder. Callum O'Hare still has two years left on his deal and an extra year option, and is coming off the back of winning Player of the Year at Bramall Lane.

However, Carvalho has shown in the past that he is more than capable of playing all across the forward line.

In the Championship at Hull, the 23-year-old played mainly as a centre forward, whereas at Brentford, his time off the bench was usually spent out wide. His one start in the Premier League last season, the opening-day loss to Nottingham Forest, saw him play off the left.

So, if Sheffield United were to bring Carvalho in, he'd be a useful Swiss Army Knife of a player across the entire front four, if Chris Wilder opts to play a 4-2-3-1, like he has done recently at Bramall Lane.

He could operate as a left-winger if Gustavo Hamer is sold or moved back into a more central, deep-lying position, or could be a starting right-winger ahead of Donovan, if Wilder deems the 19-year-old as more of an impact player. And he could provide cover and competition for those who play more centrally.

If Carvalho can stay fit and provide Sheffield United with a similar threat as he did at Hull and Fulham, then it could be exactly what the Blades need to return to being a play-off-challenging side.