Sheffield United is in the midst of a vital summer transfer window, as the Blades seek to navigate their first summer as a Championship club without parachute payments since the 2018/19 season.

Chris Wilder has the difficult task of reducing a team that was extremely bloated when he returned to the dugout for a third time last September, while still adding enough quality to ensure an improvement this year.

Sheffield United’s financial plight was exposed when academy product Andre Brooks was transferred to divisional rivals Norwich City for £8 million and replaced by Brentford’s Romelle Donovan on loan – the Blades do not have the spending capacity they have had in recent windows.

However, this does not mean they will not compete with other second-tier clubs for moves this summer, particularly in the middle of the backline, where only Mark McGuinness and Japhet Tanganga are the obvious centre-backs heading into pre-season.

Sheffield United join the race for John Souttar.

Despite signing a contract extension with Rangers in February, John Souttar is surplus to requirements at Ibrox with the arrival of former Hearts manager Derek McIness this summer.

The 29-year-old was a regular in Danny Rohl’s side last season, making 24 league games and wearing the captain’s armband on a few of them, but has yet to come to Spain for the squad’s warm-weather training camp, raising the prospect of his departure.

According to the Scottish Sun, numerous Championship clubs are interested in moving Souttar south of the border for the first time in his career, with Sheffield United leading the race.

Souttar has spent his whole career in Scotland, playing 255 SPL games for Dundee United, Hearts, and now Rangers. He has 24 caps for the Scottish national team and was part of Steve Clarke’s squad at the recent World Cup, albeit he was placed on the bench for all three group games as the Tartan Army was eliminated at the first hurdle.

He came home unwelcome by the new Gers manager, however, and may find himself moving to Sheffield, where Chris Wilder is understood to be a long-time admirer of the 29-year-old.

How Sheffield United fans have responded to the John Souttar links.

Sheffield United will undoubtedly look to sign a new centre-back this summer, following the departures of Ben Mee, Tyler Bindon, and Leo Hjelde at the end of last season.

Furthermore, Nils Zatterstrom is unlikely to play again after making no senior appearances during his debut year at Bramall Lane before being loaned out to Genoa in January.

Blades fans would prefer a return of Harry Souttar, who spent the first half of the 2024/25 season on loan from Leicester City before suffering an Achilles injury on Boxing Day.”Can we get his brother as well?” one Blades fan asked on X. “Hopefully we fall behind in the race as it’s the wrong brother,” another replied.Wrong one Blades,” and “Wilder: ‘I want Souttar,’ COH: ‘Say no more, Chris…’ were among the reactions to the news published by a Sheffield United news feed.

Harry Souttar’s Achilles injury sustained at Bramall Lane only allowed him to return to duty in the penultimate game of the 2025/26 season at Leicester, when he had to sit back and watch as his team was relegated to League One.

After playing every minute of Australia’s run to the World Cup knockout rounds this summer, the 27-year-old has proven he is better than the third tier, and given Sheffield United’s success in the first half of the 2024/25 season with him at the heart of the backline, fans are eager for another reunion.

Perhaps bringing John in will help persuade his brother to join him in the Blades’ defence. That may be the only way Sheffield United fans will accept bringing the Rangers player in.