Why Sheffield United will hate West Ham transfer news – it’s not Harrison Burrows | OneFootball

Sheffield United will hate the fact that West Ham United are interested in signing Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder James McAtee.

Sheffield United find themselves in a tricky spot ahead of the 2026/27 Championship season and things may feel worse for their supporters if West Ham United pull off their intended coup.

Having lost the likes of Anel Ahmedhodzic, Vinicius Souza and Kieffer Moore last summer as well as Andre Brooks this summer, amid interest from both Brentford and West Ham in Sydie Peck, the mood at Sheffield United remains sour.

A points deduction to kick off last season led to a very poor start under Ruben Selles before Chris Wilder returned to push them away from a relegation battle, having been play-off finalists just the season before.

Further off-field issues are also causing frustration for supporters with owners COH Sports issued a winding-up petition over unpaid payments with regards to the takeover of the club from Prince Abdullah in December 2024.

Harrison Burrows is another key man linked with West Ham - after Football League World exclusively revealed their interest in his signature back in May prior to fresh reports - but seeing the former Peterborough United man in an Irons shirt come August wouldn’t be the biggest stinger with claims emerging that the East Londoners are now eyeing an ambitious move to sign James McAtee from Nottingham Forest.

James McAtee signing for West Ham would be another blow for Sheffield United

Those big money sales have seen the squad at Sheffield United majorly altered but their summer last year was as much about replacing loanees, too, as it was finding ways to move on from their sold players.

One former loanee who left the club at the end of the 2023/24 season, having spent two seasons on loan from Manchester City, is attacking midfielder James McAtee – someone who shone for Sheffield United.

McAtee helped The Blades gain promotion in 2023 and was a shining light in the Premier League, albeit he could not help them avoid their relegation from the top-flight.

Since then, he has spent a season back at City, where he eventually finished up with seven goals in 34 first-team appearances, before a move to Nottingham Forest for a fee believed to be in the region of £30 million.

An attacking midfielder, McAtee joined a Forest side built around England international Morgan Gibbs-White in that position and so the Bolton-born attacker has failed to make much of an impact at the City Ground.

McAtee returning to the Championship would still feel fairly remarkable and the fact that it would be for a rival rather than United will sting their supporters.

Sheffield United would be envious of West Ham

Action Images

West Ham are set to be title favourites from the off as they return to the second-tier for the first time in over 15 years. Their squad may appear very different in a month or so but, for the time being at least, they still boast the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Taty Castellanos and Crysencio Summerville under the management of Nuno Espirito Santo.

Amid reported interest in both Sydie Peck and Harrison Burrows, West Ham may continue to contribute to a low mood at Bramall Lane and James McAtee would be a further symbolic blow for Blades supporters.

Having themselves been the team that was the envy of most in the Championship, McAtee moving to the London Stadium would show how far off it United are from where they once were not too long ago.

This summer has already seen the sale of an academy graduate in Brooks and there could well be hidden ramifications behind the arrival of Romelle Donovan from Brentford, with The Bees pursuing Peck.

McAtee would be an enormously impressive signing for West Ham