Sheffield United transfer splurge could be bad news for ‘humble’ Blades player | OneFootball

Sheffield United signed midfielders Joe Rothwell and Kalvin Phillips on transfer deadline day, and it may be bad news for Oliver Arblaster.

Sheffield United enjoyed a successful end to the winter transfer window, acquiring last season's Leeds United promotion winner Joe Rothwell and England international Kalvin Phillips in a double midfileder deal.

However, those additions may not please all of Chris Wilder's assets, with competition for a place in the Blades engine room now increasingly tough.

The Steel City club endured a disastrous start to the Championship campaign under the stewardship of former boss Ruben Selles, and have remained in the bottom half since Wilder's return to the Bramall Lane dugout.

Sheffield United may fancy themselves for a late-season play-off push, though, now that they have added Phillips and Rothwell to their midfield, as the duo can complement their potent attack.

Oliver Arblaster may be concerned by Sheffield United transfer activity

Given their ability and experience, Wilder will likely pick at least one of Phillips or Rothwell to start once they're up to speed if the Blades look to move further up the Championship table, and Sydie Peck looks undroppable at present too having added goals to his game.

Rothwell struggled for game-time with Rangers earlier this season, making just five league starts for the Scottish Premiership title challengers.

However, the 31-year-old proved his class in the Championship in Leeds colours last season, notching four assists to help the Whites return to the Premier League.

And the loan signing of Kalvin Phillips has certainly got people talking. The ex-England international has endured a lack of minutes with Manchester City once again this term, only featuring for Pep Guardiola's men as a late substitute in an EFL Cup win over Huddersfield Town.

The 30-year-old also struggled to make a positive impact in recent loan spells with Ipswich Town and West Ham United.

However, Phillips previously showed his admirable ability while plying his trade for his former club Leeds in both the Championship and the Premier League, and was a key man in the West Yorkshire side's successful years under cult hero Marcelo Bielsa, proving he can now be a real asset for Wilder's men.

Before Phillips and Rothwell arrived at Bramall Lane, Sheffield United academy graduate Oliver Arblaster already had to contend with fellow midfielders Sydie Peck and Jairo Riedewald for regular minutes, following his return from a long-term knee injury that was picked up in November 2024.

Speaking to the Sheffield Star in 2024, Wilder described Arblaster as a 'humble boy' who he hoped would have a long and successful career in South Yorkshire, having made a breakthrough during United's most recent Premier League season.

Since returning from his knee injury though, Arblaster has been in and out of Wilder's starting 11, with his performances probably showing a young player that doesn't have his full confidence back after such a long time out - and the latest additions to United's squad could see him out of the team even more.

Kalvin Phillips and Joe Rothwell could have what it takes to inspire late Sheffield United play-off push

Arblaster is a talented youngster with bags of potential, which was, perhaps, epitomised when he made 12 Premier League appearances for the Blades in the 2023/24 top-flight season.

He went on to show promise in the early stages of the 2024/25 Championship campaign, before enduring an ACL injury during a Steel City Derby win over Sheffield Wednesday in November 2024.

Despite their poor start to the season, the Blades are a club who boast aspirations of landing a play-off spot to try and return to the Premier League for the first time since being relegated two years ago.

Time is running out for Wilder's men to clinch a top-six place, though, hence why they have signed former promotion winners Rothwell and Phillips, who have the quality to help their side in crunch encounters at the business end of the campaign.

The former Leeds men will likely threaten Arblaster's chances of game time, though, which is arguably the only negative byproduct of their Bramall Lane arrivals.

Phillips and Rothwell will be keen to show just how good they are in important Championship fixtures on the horizon, such as the Steel City Derby, and a meeting with automatic promotion contenders Coventry City.