Sheffield United forward exit confirmed - Cardiff, Bristol City & Stoke should be eyeing up swoops | OneFootball

Football League World takes a look at why outgoing Sheffield United man Danny Ings would be a good signing for Cardiff City, Bristol City, or Stoke

Sheffield United are set to oversee a major rebuild this summer, and boss Chris Wilder isn't afraid to let big-name players depart Bramall Lane ahead of next season.

Those developments will allow the Blades' Championship rivals to acquire potential assets from the South Yorkshire club once the transfer window opens.

Wilder's men ended a largely disappointing second-tier campaign on a positive note, as they defeated Derby County 2-1, thanks to goals from Tom Cannon and Sydie Peck.

However, Sheffield United had to settle for a bottom-half finish, even though they began the season with aspirations of clinching a Premier League return.

Wilder has already revealed that the Blades are open to selling midfielders Gus Hamer and Peck this summer, which is indicative of the size of the rebuild Bramall Lane is set to witness.

And according to the Sheffield Star, former England striker Danny Ings is set to leave United ahead of next season, having signed a one-year deal last August.

Football League World has taken a look at three Championship clubs who should pounce at the opportunity to sign the 33-year-old on a free transfer.

Cardiff City

Cardiff City have just won promotion back to the Championship from League One, and will not want to return to the third tier any time soon.

Bluebirds boss Brian Barry-Murphy has expertly utilised the young talent in his squad, such as teenage fullback Ronan Kpakio, who scored in the Welsh club's thrilling 5-4 defeat to Mansfield Town on Saturday.

However, to survive in the second tier, Cardiff will also need to acquire experienced players, and that's a quality that Ings brings to the table in abundance.

Furthermore, he'd would improve the competition for fellow striker Yousef Salech, who scored 14 goals in 34 League One appearances this term - you'd imagine Callum Robinson could depart the Welsh capital this summer given his lack of starts, and ex-England international Ings could provide a good fall-back option for City's leading marksman, or even a partner when chasing a game.

Bristol City

On the other side of the Severn Bridge from Cardiff, Bristol City are set to witness a summer of key changes ahead of the 2026/27 Championship campaign.

The Ashton Gate club must find a permanent successor to former boss Gerhard Struber, now that Roy Hodgson's interim spell in the West Country is over.

Whoever the Robins' new manager is, they should be keen to add more firepower to their ranks, as striker Emil Riis Jakobsen failed to reach double figures in the Championship.

Ings has struggled for goals at both Sheffield United and West Ham United, but his previous exploits in the Premier League for the likes of Southampton suggest that he can still produce the goods in the Championship for the right club.

Bristol City's striker problems this season, coupled with their desire to re-establish their play-off credentials could make them a good fit for Ings in the latter years of his career, with Emil Riis in need of some support at the top end of the pitch next season.

Stoke City

Stoke City have never come close to reaching for the Championship play-offs since being relegated from the Premier League back in 2018, but with two extra places on offer from next season, their chance could be coming.

The Potters have endured yet another underwhelming campaign this term, finishing 17th following a 2-0 defeat to Bristol City on the final weekend.

Stoke strikers Lamine Cisse and Sam Gallagher both had poor Championship seasons, scoring just three goals and two goals, respectively, with the latter struggling with injuries once more, whilst Go Ahead Eagles loanee Milan Smit - who will likely make his move permanent this summer - also underwhelming.

Man City loanee Divin Mubama wasn't significantly more promising than either Cisse or Gallagher, notching five goals in 26 second-tier appearances - he too suffered from injury problems - and is set to return to the Etihad Stadium, adding further reason for Mark Robins' men to sign a new striker this summer.