Sheffield United are in the midst of a critical summer transfer window, as the Blades seek to improve their squad with strategic additions to help them return to play-off contention.

The EFL’s new squad cost ratio financial guidelines, as well as the fact that this is the first transfer window as a Championship side without parachute payments since January 2019, have required the Blades to be more thorough in their signings.

Sheffield United has yet to pay a fee for any of their summer signings, with Romelle Donovan joining on loan from Brentford and experienced full-back Matt Doherty entering on a free transfer after being released by Wolves.

A left-winger is now on the Blades’ wishlist, and a Manchester City academy product is now on trial with the club in pre-season, aiming to impress and earn a chance to restart his career.

Rabbi Matondo continues his pre-season opportunity with Sheffield United.

According to the Sheffield Star, former Rangers wideman Rabbi Matondo is now at Sheffield United’s training camp in Spain and will continue with the club this week in the hopes of impressing Blades manager Chris Wilder enough to secure a move.

The 25-year-old has been granted permission to leave Norwegian club SK Brann, which he joined from Rangers in March, bringing an end to an injury-plagued four-year spell at Ibrox.

Matondo made only three league appearances off the bench for Brann, the latest coming in late May, a few weeks before the Eliteserien was suspended for the World Cup. Following its resumption, he has been permitted to train with the Blades in Spain as part of their pre-season preparations.

According to the Star, the 15-cap Welsh international played in one of two XIs in either half of their win against Levante on Friday and impressed enough to stay with the club ahead of a behind-closed-doors fixture against Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town on Tuesday afternoon.

His future plans have yet to be decided. Still, with the Blades looking for cheap but effective acquisitions this summer, Matondo might be an asset on the left provided he can stay healthy for the entire season, which has been an issue throughout his career.

Sheffield United need to know if Rabbi Matondo can keep fit before they explore a signing.

According to the Star, Chris Wilder has prioritised fitness and availability throughout the squad as the new season begins. Evidently, the manager understands that his big-hitters must remain healthy if they are to make a fight for the top eight this year.

However, Matondo has struggled to keep healthy throughout his senior career. In the past two seasons, the 25-year-old has only played 24 games.”I had a difficult time at Rangers and never fulfilled my potential there,” the Welshman recently revealed. “Every single season was basically ruined by various injuries. “Now all I want is to stay injury-free and able to play football. If I can achieve that, I’m confident that I’ll find my groove.”

With five goals and three assists in just over 600 minutes of SPL action in 2023/24, and two goals and two assists in just six games the following year, it’s evident that, if healthy and able to receive a long run in a side, Matondo can be a dangerous addition out wide at Bramall Lane.

However, if Chris Wilder does bring him in, he will have to take that risk. If the 25-year-old is unable to keep healthy, it will be viewed as a squandered opportunity in a summer window that must be nearly perfect following last year’s failure.

With the EFL Cup first round less than three weeks away, only time will tell if Matondo can demonstrate his fitness to the Blades’ manager enough to warrant a permanent signing.