Arblaster leaves: Sheffield United's best and worst case transfer scenarios in January | OneFootball

It's going to be an unpredictable start to the new year for the Blades.

A season which could have been filled with embarrassment has actually started very well for Sheffield United.

Their dismal attempt to stay in the Premier League last season, combined with an ageing squad, gave many people a lot of concern about what was going to come in the near future at Bramall Lane. Well, as it turns out, there wasn't much need for all that fuss as things have gone fairly well so far.

The Blades are comfortably inside the top six in the league, having picked up just fewer than two points per game so far this season. They have one of the best defences in the league, and that's largely thanks to their summer acquisitions.

A summer of only free agents and loan signings was what was initially projected for United. They did lean on this element of the market, but they did so effectively by bringing in the likes of Alfie Gilchrist and Harry Souttar.

When they did spend money, it was to get Harrison Burrows and Michael Cooper; Peterborough United's captain and star left-back, and Plymouth Argyle's starting goalkeeper.

Despite an almost all-positive start to their return to the second tier, they by no means have one foot in the Premier League door yet; they're not even close to the door, in fact.

Having a strong January will give Chris Wilder and his team much more confidence that they can complete a task that was previously thought to be, at best, improbable. There are a couple of scenarios that could happen over the first month of 2025 that would either throw the Blades right off course or rocket them towards promotion.

Best case scenario: Takeover happens

As things stand, the months-long takeover process is still ongoing. There have been changes in faces of the people leading the bid to take control of the Blades since their intent was first reported in the summer, but no solution has been found yet.

Ohio-based businessman Steve Rosen is now reported to be fronting the negotiations for the bidding party, after Tom Page and Dominic Hughes, who were previously reported to be leading the charge, dropped out of negotiations altogether, according to The Star.

Unless the takeover happens, the Blades will be limited as to what they can do in the January window. Filling the two currently unused loan spots would be the most likely avenue. However, the new owners are not set to go and spend wildly straight away, as, for example, they are said to be unwilling to pay the £5 million fee for reported midfield target, Oliver Sorensen.

Regardless of their liking of the Danish midfielder, having that extra influx of cash for January will be a big help, but all the details of the deal need to be ironed out first before they officially become the new custodians of the club.

Worst case scenario: Oli Arblaster leaves

It's always a big statement when a manager like Wilder decides to give the captain's armband to someone so young. He did it last season when he handed the responsibility of leading his team out to Ollie Arblaster against Manchester United, at Old Trafford. In doing so, he became the youngest captain in Premier League history.

This wasn't some point-making exercise by Wilder to show up the rest of the team, he was being serious. He was so serious, in fact, that he has continued to hand the armband to the 20-year-old.

Such a decision not only speaks highly to the midfielder's character, but also his ability, so it should be no wonder that top flight teams have snooped around at him since the Blades' relegation. Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford, Ipswich Town and Southampton were all linked with Arblaster over the summer.

It could be quite a task to hold onto him through the winter window. Losing him would be a very big blow to their promotion hopes, almost regardless of the money that they would get in return for him.