£10m Leicester City news hands Sheffield United blow but West Ham boost | OneFootball

Sheffield United have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Harry Souttar

Sheffield United are aiming to get back into the promotion mix after a disappointing 2025/26.

The Blades reached the play-off final in 2025, but slipped to 13th in the table, 13 points adrift of the top six last season.

The Yorkshire outfit will want a strong pre-season and a positive transfer window to best prepare for the year ahead.

Wilder has already added Romell Donovan to the squad, with the winger arriving on loan from Premier League side Brentford.

But the Championship side will likely want to add more players between now and the 1 September deadline.

One player that Sheffield United have been linked to lately is Leicester City defender Harry Souttar, who previously spent time on loan at Bramall Lane during 2024/25.

Sheffield United suffer blow in Harry Souttar pursuit

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It has been reported by The Star that Leicester City have set an asking price of £10 million for Souttar amid speculation over his future.

It’s been claimed that this figure is outside of the Blades’ price range, and that it will have to take a significant change in strategy by the owners for that to change at this stage.

This has given West Ham the advantage in the race for his signature, with a number of clubs monitoring the defender’s situation.

Wrexham and Stoke City have also both been credited with an interest in the Australia international, who previously played for the Potters prior to his move to the King Power Stadium.

Souttar was competing at the World Cup this summer, but Australia’s elimination in the round of 32 led to him returning to England relatively early.

The centre-back has a contract with the Foxes until June 2028.

How Sheffield United fans feel about Harry Souttar’s £10 million asking price

Sheffield United supporters are pessimistic about the club being able to find an agreement with Leicester amid speculation of a £10 million asking price.

Fans have shared their scepticism over £10 million being a good deal for Souttar, suggesting the club should move on to other targets instead of continuing this pursuit.

It is expected that Souttar will sign elsewhere, and supporters are already prepared for another campaign with Mark McGuinness as their starting centre-back.

Sheffield United will begin their Championship campaign with a home clash against Birmingham City on 15 August.

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Sheffield United’s Harry Souttar pursuit is going nowhere

Souttar had a solid campaign on loan with Sheffield United a couple of years ago, so it comes as no surprise that he’s on Wilder’s shortlist of targets.

But a £10 million asking price is seemingly well out of the owners’ budget for this summer, with the Blades suffering the consequences of no longer receiving parachute payments.

It will be tough to compete financially with the likes of West Ham and Wrexham if this level of constraint is now being shown.

Sheffield United will need to get clever in the market as a result, with players like Souttar now beyond their reach financially.