Sheffield United transfer priority revealed with days of January window remaining | OneFootball

The Blades are hopeful of adding to the midfield in the final week of the transfer window

Heading into the final week of the January transfer window, Sheffield United's priority remains to add a central midfielder.

The transfer window is set to close next Monday (February 2), and at Bramall Lane, there have been more outgoings than incomings.

However, according to the Sheffield Star, the ideal scenario at Sheffield United will see three new names arrive over the coming week, with the focus being on adding another body in an engine room that has been affected by injury and suspension all throughout the campaign thus far.

The likes of Sydie Peck, Jairo Riedewald and Djirbril Soumare have been struck down for periods as the campaign has gone on, while Oliver Arblaster continues to be integrated in following a 13-month layoff from an ACL injury, and Tom Davies and Jamie Shackleton have hardly featured.

And, after missing out on some targets in recent days, the Blades are keen to add at least one new name in the middle of the park before the window slams shut.

Sheffield United transfer priority revealed, with timescale hinted ahead of Millwall

With nine points separating Sheffield United from the top six, the focus in the final week of the transfer window will be to ensure that the squad is ready to go on a lengthy winning run in the final 16 games to attempt to climb into the play-offs.

There have been some real night and day performances by the Bramall Lane-based side this season, but their 3-1 win over Ipswich Town on Saturday highlighted the quality that they do still possess, a quality that they need to replicate more between now and May.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Sheffield Star has revealed that the Blades hope to bring in three new names to add to that in the coming week. Two of which should be through the door come Saturday's trip to Millwall, and the focus is on bringing in a central midfielder.

Peck has been the most consistent middleman in terms of Championship appearances this season for Chris Wilder's side, but even he has missed six league games. Soumare and Riedewald are currently out through suspension and injury, and Arblaster continues to be slowly brought back into the fold after a lengthy spell out.

Sheffield United were interested in Dan Neil, but is heading to Ipswich on loan for the rest of the season, which has highlighted a "difficult" week in terms of transfers for Wilder, but the Blades chief is choosing to stay positive about the business over the coming days.

"It's been a really difficult week, but that's not from above. The board have been brilliant in terms of looking to support what we need to do. It's been difficult to get deals over the line," Wilder said following Saturday's win.

"We've moved some players on and will most probably move another couple on. With the ins, I'd like to think there'll be two coming in, which we need. The board have been supportive."

Chris Wilder choosing to be optimistic as time runs out for signings to be made

Throughout the majority of the winter window, the focus for Chris Wilder has been to trim a bloated squad down and remove those who were brought in to suit a different system under Ruben Selles.

However, that hasn't been the only priority, as quality additions would have been expected to be made, too. But with just six days left of the window, only Ki-Jana Hoever has arrived at Bramall Lane.

There'll be an expectation that this won't be the case come next Monday, and while he admits it's been difficult to make deals, Chris Wilder is remaining optimistic and is assured that he'll have as close to a full-strength squad ready to make a fist of getting in the top six.

To ensure that happens, there needs to be more consistency in the midfield, but failing that, there needs to be quality back-ups if the likes of Riedewald and Peck miss even more time through injury later on in the campaign.