Sheffield United transfer stance revealed on Bristol Rovers transfer target

Sheffield United will take their time before considering loaning out Bristol Rovers transfer target Will Osula but would prefer him to join a Championship club.

Last week BristolLive reported that the Gas were interested in signing Osula and that he was on a long list of potential transfer targets. They said they were monitoring the situation and that there were a ‘number of targets’ under consideration.

In an update on the rumoured pursuit, sources at The Star say that the Blades will not make a ‘quick decision’ on Osula’s future. Several EFL clubs are prepared to launch a bid to sign the 19-year-old but nothing will be decided in the short-term.

A major blow however to Rovers’ hopes though is that according to The Star, Sheffield United would prefer him to join a Championship side. United have just won promotion to the Premier League and believe Osula could be a leading player for them in the next few years.

United’s apparent preference of a Championship move could come as a blow to Rovers pursuit but Rovers could be top of the list should a suitable move not come about. Joey Barton has utilised the loan market in his two-and-a-half-year tenure and both Connor Taylor and Elliot Anderson are just two examples of preparing players for higher level football.

Osula had a loan at Rovers’ League One rivals Derby County and he made 21 appearances for the Rams, scoring five goals and getting one assist. Most recently he scored a hat-trick against inter-city rivals Bristol City in an Under-21’s match, with the Blades winning 4-0 and Osula the star of the show after causing Carlisle United and Walsall loanees Duncan Idehen and Joe Low countless problems.

The Denmark Under-19 international returned to Bramall Lane in January after being limited to substitute appearances and appeared twice in the end-of-season run-in for Paul Heckingbottom’s side.

His season finishes against Millwall tonight as Sheffield United face Millwall in the final of the Professional Development League. He is expected to spend pre-season with United, like he did last year before they consider his future for the 2023/24 season.