Sheffield United must loan out 2006-born ace by February 2nd | OneFootball

Ryan One may not be in Chris Wilder's immediate plans, and should spend the rest of the current campaign elsewhere

We're nearing the midway point of the January transfer window, and at Sheffield United, the retention of Patrick Bamford has been the headline-grabber.

The 32-year-old agreed an 18-month contract until the end of the 2026/27 campaign, just days before his initial short-term spell was set to run out, and Blades fans will be hoping that he can continue his electric form in front of goal through the rest of the year.

However, the news has all but confirmed that 19-year-old Ryan One will remain on the fringes of the action at Bramall Lane for the rest of the season, with the frontline at Sheffield United more than saturated with talent.

The 2006-born star broke into the Blades side at times last season, but he hasn't been afforded the time to kick on further with his current club this term.

Clearly, Chris Wilder sees One as a future star who could maintain the already present quality in attacking positions in an emergency backup role, but for him to truly hit the next level, he needs game time, and the Blades would be missing a trick if they didn't send him out on loan this month.

Ryan One needs a loan move - their League One neighbours have been linked

With One on the cusp of action in the Championship, it wouldn't be a far-fetched idea to think that he'd be able to hit the ground running in League One throughout the rest of this campaign.

Rotherham United, Sheffield United's South Yorkshire neighbours and third-tier strugglers, have been linked with the 19-year-old for a large chunk of the ongoing winter window, but a move has yet to be struck, with Chris Wilder at the time stressing the need to "not leave ourselves light."

That was before Bamford extended his contract with the Blades, so now, with the former Leeds United man confirmed to be sticking around, alongside the presence of Tyrese Campbell, Tom Cannon and Danny Ings in the striker department, Chris Wilder may be more open to allowing One to leave.

Since Bamford made his debut against Sheffield Wednesday, the Scottish youth international hasn't seen the pitch and has been absent from the last six matchday squads, including in Sunday's FA Cup third round defeat against Mansfield Town, which would indicate that a move could be imminent.

Therefore, given Sheffield United's depth up front, plus Rotherham's desperate need for a new striker this January, it seems a no-brainer that a loan deal could be struck.

Rotherham United need an attacking boost — Ryan One would be ideal

Rotherham are currently in the mother of all ruts in League One. After a nine-game unbeaten run, the Millers have lost each of their last six by an aggregate scoreline of 15-2.

Conceding two and a half goals per game in that run is concerning, as is slipping into the bottom four, but what is arguably more alarming is the fact that they've found the back of the net just twice in that time.

Injuries have scuppered any momentum that Matt Hamshaw's side had going forward. Martin Sherif only managed 10 appearances in all competitions before being mutually recalled by Everton from his loan spell, and Kion Etete has managed just six league starts all season, too.

The most frustrating of all, however, is the injury record of Sam Nombe, who was a revelation towards the back of last term after Hamshaw took the reins at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The 27-year-old still has five goals this season, but has played just over 500 minutes of League One action due to various spells out through injury.

All of those factors have contributed to Rotherham scoring the second-fewest goals in the third tier this season, alongside having the second-lowest expected goals, too, per Fotmob.

Not only does Matt Hamshaw need a fit frontman in January, but he needs one that he knows will be hungry, firing and ready to go, and in the limited time he's had on the pitch in the last season and a half in the Championship, all signs point to him having a positive impact.

There's still a long way to go this season, but the current losing run has opened up a five-point gap between Rotherham and safety, and a move for One as soon as possible could help stop that buffer from increasing and perhaps lead the Millers away from the bottom four altogether.