Sheffield United have made their first signing of the summer transfer window, with Romelle Donovan joining on loan from Brentford.

The 19-year-old has obvious talent and was on the outskirts of involvement in the Premier League last season for the European-chasing Bees. Overall, he made nine appearances across all competitions.

In announcing the purchase for Donovan, Blades manager Chris Wilder praised the endorsement of both Brentford head coach Keith Andrews and coach Jack Lester, whom he describes as “two individuals we know and respect from their time working here.”

Indeed, both the Bees’ manager and his assistant came from Sheffield United. Andrews was a member of Wilder’s backroom staff during his second spell as Blades manager in 2023 before leaving for Brentford at the end of the season, while Lester worked as a coach in both the youth and first-team squads for six years between 2019 and 2025.

Evidently, the great recommendation from people at Brentford persuaded Sheffield United to go after him, and the fact that Andrews thinks he’s in good hands is a factor in them selecting Bramall Lane as the ideal venue for the 19-year-old to continue his development.

Chris Wilder should surely use that link to secure another agreement this summer.

Sheffield United should try and sign Fabio Carvalho this summer.

Fabio Carvalho has struggled at Brentford since joining from Liverpool in the summer of 2024, particularly this season, which terminated in November when he tore his ACL.

It was reported in March that the Bees intended to sell the 23-year-old this summer, but given that he cost the club up to £27.5 million just a few years ago, they’d struggle to make anything close to that, given that he’s coming off the back of such a serious injury and has only played 33 times in the previous 15 months.

A loan move might be considered to get him back on track, and Sheffield United should surely try to use their relationships at Brentford to put themselves ahead of the pack.

Carvalho had an impressive record in the Championship, whether it was with the extremely entertaining Fulham side in 2021/22, which persuaded Liverpool to recruit him, or his loan spell at Hull City in 2024, which led to his move to Brentford.

The Portuguese attacking midfielder scored 10 goals and assisted eight in 36 appearances during his complete season with Fulham, and even after such a terrible injury, he has a good chance of replicating those numbers in a single season back in the second division.

Furthermore, in 33 games at Brentford, he has 10 goal involvements, with the majority of those coming as late bench cameos. He still has top-flight potential, but spending a season in the second tier may help him rediscover it.

Fabio Carvalho will assist bolster Sheffield United’s front line next season.

If there is one position that Sheffield United do not need to fill next season, it is a central attacking midfielder. Callum O’Hare still has two years on his contract with an option for an extra year, and he recently won Player of the Year at Bramall Lane.

Carvalho, on the other hand, has demonstrated in the past that he can play wherever on the forward line.

The 23-year-old was mostly a centre forward in the Championship at Hull, but he spent most of his time off the bench at Brentford out wide. He made one Premier League start last season, on the opening day against Nottingham Forest, and he played on the left.

So, if Sheffield United sign Carvalho, he’d be a useful Swiss Army Knife of a player across the front four, especially if Chris Wilder opts to play a 4-2-3-1, as he did recently at Bramall Lane.

He might play left-wing if Gustavo Hamer is sold or moved back to a more central, deep-lying position, or he could start right-wing ahead of Donovan if Wilder believes the 19-year-old is a greater impact player. He might also give cover and competition for players who play more centrally.

If Carvalho can stay fit and provide Sheffield United with the same menace he did at Hull and Fulham, the Blades might be back on track to compete for the play-offs.