Rabbi Matondo situation at Sheffield United: Update emerges as decision looms | OneFootball

Rabbi Matondo is set to continue pre-season with Sheffield United, having been free to leave SK Brann this summer

Sheffield United are in the midst of a very important summer transfer window, as the Blades look to improve the squad with smart additions to help them return to being a play-off-calibre side.

The new squad cost ratio financial rulings in the EFL and the fact that this is the first transfer window as a Championship side without parachute payments since January 2019 have meant that the Blades have needed to be a bit more meticulous with their signings.

Currently, Sheffield United haven't paid a fee for any of their arrivals thus far this summer, with Romelle Donovan coming in on loan from Brentford and veteran full-back Matt Doherty arriving on a free transfer after his release from Wolves.

A left-winger is now on the wishlist at Bramall Lane, and a Manchester City academy graduate is currently with the club in pre-season, hoping to impress and earn an opportunity to reignite his career with the Blades.

Rabbi Matondo continues pre-season opportunity with Sheffield United

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According to the Sheffield Star, former Rangers wideman Rabbi Matondo is currently a part of Sheffield United's training camp in Spain and is set to remain with the club this week with the hope of impressing Blades boss Chris Wilder to earn a move.

The 25-year-old has been made available to leave Norwegian side SK Brann, whom he just joined back in March from Rangers, bringing an end to an injury-ravaged four years at Ibrox.

At Brann, Matondo made just three league appearances off the bench, last appearing in late May, a couple of weeks before the Eliteserien paused for the World Cup. Following its resumption, he's been allowed to train with the Blades in Spain as part of their pre-season preparations.

The Star states that the 15-capped Welsh international featured in one of the two XIs that played in either half of their win against Levante on Friday, and impressed enough to remain with the club ahead of a behind-closed-doors match-up with Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town on Tuesday afternoon.

No decision has been made regarding his future just yet. Still, with the Blades on the hunt for cheap yet effective additions this summer, Matondo could be a useful addition on the left if he can remain fit for the whole campaign, which has been a problem throughout his career.

Sheffield United need to know if Rabbi Matondo can remain fit for them to consider a signing

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The Star goes on to state that Chris Wilder has put an onus on fitness and availability throughout the squad heading into the new season. Evidently, the manager knows that he'll need his big-hitters to remain healthy if they are to make a push towards the top eight this year.

Matondo has struggled to stay fit for much of his senior career thus far, though. In the last two seasons, the 25-year-old has played just 24 times.

"I had a tough time at Rangers, and I never reached my potential there," the Welshman admitted previously. "Every single season was basically ruined by various injuries.

"Now I just want to stay injury-free and able to play football. If I can do that, I know I will find the rhythm and confidence."

With five goals and three assists in just over 600 minutes of SPL action during the 2023/24 campaign, and two goals and two assists in just six games the following year, it's clear that, if fit and able to receive a lengthy run in a side, Matondo can be a dangerous addition out wide at Bramall Lane.

That's the risk that Chris Wilder will have to take if he does bring him in, though. If the 25-year-old can't stay fit, it would go down as a wasted bit of business in a summer window that needs to be near-perfect after the disappointment of last summer.

With the EFL Cup's first round less than three weeks away, only time will tell whether Matondo can prove his fitness to the Blades boss to consider bringing him in permanently.