Sheffield United must beat Celtic to Plymouth Argyle deal | OneFootball

Sheffield United would be making the signing of the summer if they beat Celtic to sealing a deal with Plymouth Argyle...

Sheffield United head into the 2026/27 season knowing that significant improvement is required if they are to re-establish themselves as genuine promotion contenders, with Plymouth Argyle also hoping for promotion in League One.

A 13th-place finish in the Championship was well below expectations for a club of the Blades' stature, and Chris Wilder will be under pressure to oversee a much stronger campaign after he was reinstated as manager to replace Ruben Selles.

While there were positives to take from parts of last season since his return, inconsistency ultimately prevented Sheffield United from mounting a serious challenge on the play-offs at the top end of the table. Meanwhile, Plymouth Argyle have been attempting to rebuild following their relegation from the Championship in 2024/25.

The Pilgrims narrowly missed out on the League One play-offs last season in agonising fashion on the final day of the season, with Tom Cleverley and co. hoping to go one better this time around. Unsurprisingly, strong individual performances at Home Park have attracted attention from clubs higher up the pyramid.

Sheffield United have to beat Celtic to Lorent Tolaj

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Plymouth Argyle striker Lorent Tolaj is already attracting interest from Celtic. For many Championship fans, they want the 24-year-old after a stunning campaign in League One. He is certainly one player in particular that should be firmly on Sheffield United's radar.

In fact, some Sheffield United fans already want Tolaj from Plymouth. Many would argue he is the type of signing capable of making an immediate impact at Championship level. The forward enjoyed an impressive campaign with Plymouth by scoring 21 and assisting a further eight in 35 appearances after signing from Port Vale.

Since leaving Brighton & Hove Albion permanently, his rise has been rapid. He has played 129 games in all competitions since then, across the likes of League One and League Two and the National League, scoring 58 and assisting 30 in that time. He has also demonstrated many of the qualities required to thrive in the second tier.

His assists figure shows how he can link play so effectively, but he also has the strength, movement, work rate, and natural eye for goal that makes him an attractive proposition for clubs searching for additional firepower. For Sheffield United and Celtic, the appeal is obvious.

Goals remain one of the most valuable commodities in the Championship, and Wilder will know that strengthening his attacking options could be the difference between another season in mid-table and a genuine promotion challenge. He is also a manager who loves to have numerous quality strikers to choose from, with competition for places how he builds such strong teams.

While Patrick Bamford, Tyrese Campbell, and Tom Cannon all bring quality to the squad, adding another reliable source of goals would provide that valuable competition and depth. In fact, Tolaj's versatility could be one of his biggest strengths. Rather than simply competing with Sheffield United's existing forwards, he could complement them.

His ability to operate in different striking roles would give Wilder greater tactical flexibility, whether that involves partnering another striker, playing slightly deeper or leading the line himself. Championship seasons are long and demanding, and successful teams are usually those capable of rotating quality attacking options without suffering from a significant drop in performance level.

The other transfer interest in Lorent Tolaj is a concern for Celtic and Sheffield United

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Age is another factor working in Sheffield United's favour regarding Tolaj. He is entering a stage of his career where he is starting to peak, but there is still development there which can go hand in hand with output and productivity immediately. Essentially, he is young enough to improve further, yet experienced enough to contribute immediately.

That combination is exactly what clubs should be targeting in the modern transfer market. Beyond the immediate benefits, there is also the potential for long-term value. If the Plymouth striker continues his upward trajectory, Sheffield United could be acquiring a player capable of becoming a key asset both on the pitch and financially.

Of course, securing his signature will not be straightforward. There is significant interest in the striker, and Sheffield United will need to move decisively if they want to win the race. Norwich City and Stoke City are keen on Tolaj from the Championship and Rangers have also been looking at the Plymouth striker.