Sheffield United looked into the possibility of signing former Everton defender Seamus Coleman in the summer transfer window.
Former Everton right-back Seamus Coleman has revealed that he held talks with Sheffield United during the summer following his departure from the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but has admitted that “it all happened too soon”.
Coleman became a free agent following the end of last season after his 17-year association with Everton came to an end. He joined the Toffees from Sligo Rovers in January 2009 and made a whopping 435 appearances for the club, scoring 28 goals.
The Star reported in July that United, who secured a second Championship victory of the season on Tuesday night after beating Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Ewood Park, had made a tentative enquiry to Coleman about the prospect of a move to Bramall Lane.
Blades boss Chris Wilder was keen to add some experience to his squad ahead of the start of this season, and it was believed that Coleman had been identified as a candidate to help achieve that objective while simultaneously strengthening the right-back department.
However, Coleman, who will celebrate his 38th birthday next month, has now revealed that jumping straight back into football so soon after bringing the curtain down on a long and successful chapter with Everton was simply too soon for him.
“I met the manager and I went down there, [but] it just felt a bit soon after leaving Everton,” Coleman told the Irish Times. “It all happened too soon.
“I didn’t want to keep them hanging because I didn’t want to mess them around, you know, they’re trying to get their players in, so I just went back to Ireland.
“The manager was great. I went down and met him, he was really, really good – a little bit old school, and the club was a good set-up as well. But I didn’t want to keep them hanging on, and decided it just wasn’t right, [so] went home and just switched off.
“I’m not stressing either way about it, to be honest. I’m kind of laid back. I had a good run, it was more so just the Irish stuff for me really that has put a bit of doubt in my mind.”
Seamus Coleman enjoyed a long and successful career with Everton.placeholder image
Seamus Coleman enjoyed a long and successful career with Everton. | Getty Images
Although Coleman is yet to made a decision on his next chapter, the experienced right-back still believes he has something to offer, admitting he hopes to find a new club in the not-too-distant future.
The former Everton man continued: “I’ll be making a decision very, very soon. Again, if it wasn’t for the Ireland stuff, my decision would have been made.
“At my age, even in the last two/three years at Everton, I’ve not played consistently or regularly, some injuries and then just not getting picked as well, but I always felt like I probably wasn’t hanging around there like a bad smell, because I could influence dressing rooms and players.
“I felt, at Everton, I was around for long enough that I could have an impact on the dressing room, so even something like that going forward... I know I can help players, I know I can help improve players, I know I can talk to players.
“I’m not going to play 30-40 games there, but I know I can come in and help.”