Sheffield United closing in on huge double striker transfer boost as January work clicks into gear

Exc: Sheffield United closing in on huge double transfer boost despite competition from promotion rivals

Sheffield United are closing in on a major double transfer boost, The Star knows, as their January window activity begins to swing into action. The Blades’ had taken preparations to strike the ground running when the market opened but their attempts at adding to their squad have been unsuccessful thus far.

Part of the issue has been the negotiations concerning options and liabilities in deals if the Blades are promoted to the Premier League this season, which had delayed United’s loan transfer for Ben Brereton Diaz. But the process was smoothed recently when the Chilean international, who impressed on loan at United last season in the Premier League, informed the Saints administration that he would only be prepared to accept a move to Bramall Lane if he left St. Mary’s this year.

The 25-year-old, who joined Southampton from Villarreal for £7 million in the summer, had also been targeted by United’s promotion rivals Sunderland this window, but The Star has learned that United are close to completing a deal for the forward, who had been earmarked as manager Chris Wilder’s top target in this transfer window.

Wilder had identified a player capable of playing wide left and covering up front as one of his priorities, and while alternatives such as Aston Villa’s Louie Barry were considered, United were determined to sign Brereton Diaz, who scored six goals in 14 top-flight games for the Blades last season.

We are also told that United are finalising a deal for striker Tom Cannon after having a bid accepted for the Leicester City striker yesterday. As we previously reported, the Blades are set to pay an up-front fee of around £10 million to land the forward, who was recalled earlier this window from a loan spell at Stoke City ahead of his next move in his career.

Wilder had hoped to have new faces in his squad for this afternoon’s game against Norwich City at Bramall Lane, and he will hope to have one or both of the new faces signed and sealed in time for United’s two games next week, away at Swansea City on Tuesday night and at home to Hull City on Friday evening.