Sheffield United must follow £15m William Osula blueprint as Rangers circle | OneFootball

Sheffield United have had recent transfer interest from Rangers but they must follow the William Osula blueprint this summer.

Ryan One will be hoping to make a major impression for Sheffield United under Chris Wilder this season after showing flashes of his potential during a productive loan spell with Lincoln City and amid interest from Rangers.

The striker's performances since January naturally attracted attention, with Rangers reportedly among those monitoring One's situation at Sheffield United recently and seeing a bid knocked back for the 20-year-old.

Having joined back in September 2023 from Hamilton Academical, the Blades must now decide whether to cash in or retain a player who could have a significant role to play in 2026/27.

Ryan One could be about to make his mark at Sheffield United

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One's development has taken another positive step over the past year, particularly after his January move to Lincoln City. He made a notable impact as Michael Skubala's side pushed towards promotion, gaining valuable senior experience and showing that his physical attributes can translate into consistent performances.

That should give Chris Wilder plenty to work with as he looks to build an attack capable of challenging at the top of the Championship. Standing tall and possessing considerable athleticism, One offers something slightly different to some of the other Sheffield United forward options.

He can compete with Patrick Bamford, Tyrese Campbell, and Tom Cannon for minutes, while also potentially complementing them depending on the system Wilder chooses. There is no guarantee that he immediately becomes a regular starter, but that should not necessarily be the expectation.

Having another young, hungry striker capable of stretching defences and providing a physical presence gives Wilder another weapon. With Sheffield United's ultimate objective being to fight for promotion, having serious competition across the frontline should end up being invaluable over a long campaign.

Sheffield United should follow the William Osula blueprint with Ryan One

The temptation to sell One if Rangers were to make another substantial offer is understandable, but Sheffield United should remember what happened with William Osula. It was something of a surprise when the Blades allowed Osula to join Newcastle United for a deal worth around £15 million including add-ons, particularly given his potential.

Yet Newcastle's patience with Osula is now beginning to look increasingly justified. His development was never going to happen overnight. Osula needed time to adapt to a higher level, but his physicality, pace, and ability to occupy defenders have gradually become more refined.

He has now developed into arguably Newcastle's main attacking threat in that central striker position, showing why the Magpies were prepared to invest heavily in his potential back in 2024. There are similarities with One, particularly in their size and stature to develop into imposing forwards.

That does not mean One will inevitably follow exactly the same trajectory, but Sheffield United should recognise the possibility. It's likely that Rangers have cooled their interest because the Blades' asking price is too high and that should actually strengthen United's resolve. Per Italian journalist Luca Bedoni, an "out-of-market" offer would have to come to part ways with One.

A straight loan or a loan-to-buy was never something that suited the Blades. Also, if Osula was worth around £15 million when his potential was still relatively unproven, One should command a similar valuation given his own development. Sheffield United should not sell cheaply and then watch another club benefit from the player's eventual explosion.

Chris Wilder could benefit enormously from keeping Ryan One

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Beyond Osula's impressive exploits after scoring nine and assisting one last year, following two goals and two assists in 19 in the season prior, there is also a strong footballing argument for Sheffield United simply keeping One.

Of course, One could be on that pathway and trajectory but Wilder's perspective has to be that he has never been shy about using multiple strikers, rotating his forwards and finding different combinations depending on the opposition. One could become an important part of that approach, particularly if he continues developing the confidence gained from his Lincoln spell.

His competition also makes this an intriguing opportunity. Bamford brings huge experience but is at the latter stage of his career and injuries have held him back, Campbell has had his own battles with injuries, while Cannon has struggled to consistently reproduce his best form at this level. That does not mean any of them should be written off, but it does leave a potential opening for One.

If he can stay fit, improve his finishing and translate his physical gifts into regular Championship performances, he could explode onto the scene. Suddenly, Sheffield United would have a young striker capable of pushing established names for their places and not just simply filling out the squad.

That is why retaining One could be worth far more than accepting a sizeable fee from Rangers. Sheffield United