Sheffield United offered helping hand to get late transfers over line amid Rangers, Manchester City deal hopes
Tonight’s 7pm transfer deadline has now been and gone without confirmation from Sheffield United of either of the two deals they were reportedly looking to wrap up before the January window slammed shut - but all hope is not lost. The Blades kicked off what they hoped would be a busy deadline day by signing Leo Hjelde from Sunderland on loan.
They also began the process of adding Joe Rothwell to their squad by arranging a medical for the Rangers midfielder, with manager Chris Wilder subsequently confirming in his press conference this afternoon that the former Leeds United man is “in situ.”
It later emerged that United were hoping to add another ex-Leeds man to their squad in former England international Kalvin Phillips, with the midfielder said to be keen on a return to his native Yorkshire in a bid to kickstart his stalled career.
Crucially, City are understood to be willing to subsidise a huge portion of Phillips’ salary to facilitate a move but the seven o’clock deadline came and went without word on either deal.
A crucial rule change introduced for the first time this window, however, keeps some optimism alive. EFL ‘deal sheets’ effectively give clubs an extra two hours to submit the paperwork for a transfer, whether full or loan.
Crucially, though, the main details of the move have to have been agreed between all parties - including the player - before 7pm. The sheet itself must also have been submitted between five and seven o’clock this evening, effectively extending the deadline until 9pm.
Sheffield United offered helping hand to seal transfers after 7pm deadline amid Rangers, Manchester City deal hopes
The English Football League say that the system “has been introduced following feedback from EFL clubs and to further align with the process undertaken in the Premier League,” and that “it can only be used by the buying club for transfers or loans into or within the EFL.
“It does not apply to transfers or loans to clubs outside the EFL. If a player is moving to a Premier League club, that club must use a Premier League deal sheet.
“Once the EFL Deal Sheet is submitted, the Club has until 20:59:59 on the day the transfer window closes to complete all necessary transfer documentation and submit it to the FIFA Transfer Matching System, The FA, and the EFL (as appropriate).”
Separately, any player that United do manage to secure between now and the extended deadline would not be able to make their debut in tomorrow’s Bramall Lane clash with Oxford United.
The registration deadline for that game passed at 12noon today. United announced the signing of Hjelde at 1pm, but the crucial factor is when the registration was processed. Boss Wilder indicated earlier today that the Norwegian U21 international will be involved in the squad against Matt Bloomfield’s side.
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