All the very latest Championship transfer rumours as the window prepares to enter its fourth week.
After making a winning start to their pre-season preparations with a 3-1 win over FC Halifax Town on Saturday afternoon, Sheffield United are now hoping to make some progress in the transfer window.
Blades manager Chris Wilder, following the victory at The Shay, hinted at progress being made with the club’s recruitment efforts, admitting that the club is “excited about a couple of things that will happen over the next 24-48 hours”.
It is no secret the United boss is determined to strengthen several key areas of his team ahead of the start of the new season, including the right-back and centre-back departments. The Blades’ only incoming so far this summer has been the return of midfielder Jaïro Riedewald, who signed a one-year contract at Bramall Lane in midweek.
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Several other clubs in the Championship have made progress much quicker in the window, meaning a number of United supporters are determined to see more new faces arrive at Bramall Lane sooner rather than later. All of United’s Championship counterparts are determined to get new faces through the door as quickly as possible as pre-season plans begin to go up through the gears.
With that said, here are some of the latest rumours concerning United’s second tier rivals...
Derby ‘closing in’ on City striker
Derby County are in ‘advanced talks’ with Manchester City to sign striker Divin Mubama on loan, according to a report by Football Insider. Mubama spent last season on loan at Stoke City, scoring five goals in 26 Championship appearances.
It is reported the 21-year-old, who scored a hat-trick for Stoke in a 5-1 win over Bristol City at the bet365 Stadium last November, is ‘close’ to finalising a move to Pride Park and boosting John Eustace’s attacking options.
Mubama, who has scored five goals in just seven appearances for England’s Under-21s, would probably have finished last season with more than five goals to his name had he not suffered an ankle injury in January. That all but ended his season after he made just one more appearance before the end of the campaign.
Mubama, who has made two appearances for Manchester City, scoring one goal, has been identified as a target for the Rams amid their need for attacking reinforcements this summer. They made full use of the loan market last term, borrowing the likes of Sammie Szmodics, Jaydon Banel and former Blade Ben Brereton Díaz, meaning they are light on firepower following their returns to their parent clubs.
Robins have latest Ballard bid ‘rejected’
According to journalist Alan Nixon, Bristol City have seen a second bid for Leyton Orient striker Dom Ballard ‘rejected’. It emerged almost a week ago that the Robins had seen an opening offer, reportedly worth £2.5million, rejected for the 21-year-old.
Dom Ballard is a top target for Bristol City.placeholder image
Dom Ballard is a top target for Bristol City. | Getty Images
It is now claimed that Orient have turned down a new and improved offer of £3m for their star man. Ballard, recruited from Southampton less than a year ago, was the leading goalscorer in League One last term, firing in 23 goals in 40 appearances.
His reliability in front of goal earned him both the League One Player of the Season and League One Young Player of the Season awards. He was also named in the League One Team of the Season.
Nixon has reported that various extras were attached to the Robins’ £3m offer, but it was not enough to force Orient into a sale. West Ham United and Werder Bremen have also been credited with interest in Ballard this summer.
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