Sheffield United 'can't afford' to snub West Ham transfer advances | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield United fan pundit has given his verdict on West Ham's interest in Harrison Burrows

Harrison Burrows’ future at Sheffield United is the subject of intense speculation with the transfer window now open.

The full-back joined the Blades in the 2024 summer transfer window from Peterborough United, and has been a key part of the team since then.

The 24-year-old has made 87 league appearances for the Yorkshire outfit, contributing 10 goals and seven assists.

He was also a part of the side that reached the play-off final in 2025, losing 2-1 to Sunderland under Chris Wilder.

But Burrows is now being linked with a possible move to West Ham as a replacement to El Hadji Malick Diouf - whose future is uncertain after their relegation to the Championship - after Football League World exclusively revealed their interest in the gifted left-sided Blades starlet back in May.

It remains to be seen whether Sheffield United would be willing to cash in on the defender, who has a contract until June 2028.

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When asked about the possibility of selling Burrows to West Ham, FLW’s Sheffield United fan pundit Jimmy claimed that the play-off final loss was a sliding doors moment in the player’s career, and that he struggled in 2025/26.

He praised the full-back’s first campaign at Bramall Lane, but that he wasn’t able to maintain that same level of quality last season.

“It’s been a tale of two seasons for Harrison Burrows,” Jimmy told Football League World.

“In the first season with us, he was one of our standout players, got in the EFL team of the year, still very young, signed for around £3 million quid.

“There will be some sell-ons to Peterborough as well, I’m sure.

“He looked really lively, he scored in the play-off final and [it was] controversially disallowed — it would’ve made it 2-0 and possibly put us out of sight.

“So it’s a massive sliding doors moment, as he had a poor season last year.

“His numbers were still decent, but watching his performances you could tell that it wasn’t at the same level.”

Jimmy has claimed that it should take at least £6 or 7 million for Sheffield United to sell Burrows, but that it might make the most sense for them to cash in as he could be behind Sam McCallum in the pecking order now.

“So, some Blades may say ‘take the money and go’,” he added.

“For me, it depends on how much.

“And I think anything less than £6, 7 million, and we need some decent add-ons with that as well because I still think he’s going to go on and become a very good player, I think would be under-selling him.

“But the problem we’ve got is we’re no longer a parachute side, and Sam McCallum is in front of him in the team at the minute.

“We can’t afford to have expensive assets sat on the bench when we actually need the money in for the first team.

“So, it’s a dilemma for Sheffield United, but I think we’ve still got to hold out for the best price possible.”

worth £3 million, and his value has no doubt increased since then.

However, he has fallen down the pecking order at Bramall Lane, as he started in 30 of his 44 league appearances across 2025/26.

Meanwhile, Diouf only joined West Ham last summer, and he was a consistent presence for the Hammers in the Premier League.

The defender featured 32 times in the league, including starting on 30 occasions, and he contributed five assists.

The Senegal international has been linked with a possible move to Everton, but it remains to be seen whether David Moyes’ side will actually complete his signature.

Diouf’s participation at the World Cup concluded with Senegal’s 3-2 loss to Belgium in the round of 32, which could lead to a decision on his future being made imminently.

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Harrison Burrows move makes a lot of sense for West Ham

Burrows didn’t enjoy as strong a second season at Bramall Lane as he did in his first, but he was still a commanding threat in the final third.

His style of play would be quite suitable for Nuno Espirito Santo at West Ham, and he would be a natural replacement for Diouf as the two are quite similar in a lot of ways.

Given the Senegal international could be sold in a major move, a fee of around £6 or 7 million for Burrows to replace him could be a great bit of business for the Hammers.

And if he isn’t even going to be first choice for Sheffield United, then it might suit all parties for a deal at that kind of figure.