Sheffield United should take Coventry City transfer risk as new Chris Wilder era looms | OneFootball

Sheffield United should have a look at Ellis Simms' availability this summer, ahead of what is hoped to be a better season than last

Theirs murmurs of a new era dawning at Sheffield United this summer, ahead of what will be their third consecutive season in the Championship.

The Blades finished 13th this season, their lowest finish in the pyramid since they won League One back in the 2016/17 campaign, and the general consensus was that this year was one of the most disappointing in recent memory.

With the club not in receipt of Premier League parachute payments this summer, a more streamlined squad compared to last season will be expected, and arguably needed, too, as Chris Wilder looks to trim some of the fat in the team at Bramall Lane.

There'll be a real freshness about the Sheffield United squad that comes alongside it, as certain players who maybe overstayed their welcome depart and are replaced by new players who are still capable of shooting the Blades at least back into the play-offs, but hopefully into the top two.

With Danny Ings already departing this summer, perhaps Chris Wilder should go all in and look for someone new to challenge Patrick Bamford for the number nine spot next season, and there may be someone at Coventry City who becomes expendable this summer following their promotion.

Sheffield United should target Ellis Simms to reinvigorate their frontline this summer

Bamford earned his contract extension until the end of next season, finishing as Sheffield United's top scorer with 12 league goals, despite playing just 28 games across the campaign.

In comparison, Tyrese Campbell netted six in 34, and Tom Cannon netted six in 36. Neither has blown Blades fans away with their performances over the last nine months, and if Chris Wilder opted to get rid of both of them, there wouldn't be much disappointment, especially if they were replaced with better players.

Perhaps that better player could come in the form of Ellis Simms, who has still managed to equal his best Championship goalscoring season at Coventry this year with 13 goals, despite playing over 1,000 fewer minutes than in the 2023/24 campaign.

Indeed, the 25-year-old has been used primarily off the bench this season, starting just 15 of his 43 league appearances, due to the excellence up front of Haji Wright, but he's still managed to net just four goals fewer than the American.

After a 2024/25 campaign where he scored just six times from 9.91 expected goals, to score 13 from 11.61 expected is an improvement, and Championship clubs should have him on their radar this summer, if he does end up failing to make that step up to the Premier League.

Unfortunately for those sides right now, Sky Blues boss Frank Lampard thinks he can, but we've seen how ruthless managers have had to be to keep up with the demands of the Premier League. Sentiment cannot afford to get in the way, and if Coventry makes a marquee signing up front, Simms would become surplus to requirements.

With Bamford likely to resume his role as the starting frontman, Simms could replicate his brilliance off the bench at Bramall Lane.

And, with the 32-year-old's injury record not the greatest, albeit strong since he made the move to Chris Wilder's side, having someone like Simms to slot in and continue scoring at the rate Bamford has done, if he were to get injured, would be a big boost to their promotion hopes.

Ellis Simms is entering the final year of his contract — Coventry City will have a decision to make

Ultimately, Sheffield United's spending will be a little more restricted this summer, given their lack of parachute payments from the Premier League. They'll have to rely a lot on loans and free transfers, which could perhaps scupper their attempts to sign Simms.

With the four-year contract Simms signed back in 2023 running out at the end of next season, there's a high likelihood that, if the 25-year-old does leave the CBS Arena, it may be for a fee, as Coventry looks to avoid losing him for free.

If that is the case, the Blades may find themselves struggling to see the worth in signing him, even if there is major upside in having him in the squad, as spending money on someone who will primarily just provide competition to Bamford may not be something they are willing to do.

If Sheffield United can get Coventry to loan Simms to them for the year, it would be a great deal and an upgrade on who they already have backing up Bamford, but in the end, it will all be up to Frank Lampard's side.