The battle at the very top of the Championship table has started to heat up substantially over the last few weeks with just five points separating first and fourth.
Leeds United now lead Sheffield United, while Burnley and Sunderland are narrowly outside the automatic promotion places.
However, the Blades appear to be on the rise in the transfer market, having announced the signing of Tom Cannon from Leicester City for £10 million.
Despite this, Chris Wilder is still looking for a replacement centre-back after Harry Souttar’s season was cut short due to an Achilles tendon injury, and he has since returned to his original club, the Foxes.
The Yorkshire club is in need of a new signing, and QPR’s Jimmy Dunne might be the ideal candidate to fill the vacuum left by the Australian.
Verdict made on Sheffield United’s Dunne interest
Football League World exclusively disclosed on Thursday that the Blades are planning a move for the R’s defender, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
Wilder is looking to add additional depth to his defense, and the 27-year-old could be the ideal candidate to play with Anel Ahmedhodzic.
FLW asked their Sheffield United Fan Pundit, Jimmy from Blades Ramble, if he would like to see the Irishman brought to Bramall Lane before the 3 February deadline.
“Jimmy Dunne would be a fantastic signing for Sheffield United, he’s just what we need to be honest,” he started.
“He’s in the same category of other players that we have signed in our previous promotion seasons. We signed Martin Cranie, Gary Madine, Scott Hogan, Kieran Dowell during that time, and while they’re not absolutely statement signings by any means, they are really solid, good Championship players.”
Jimmy went on to say, “I believe Dunne has the capacity to bridge the gap, and he is a significant improvement over what we currently have.
“He is out of contract at the end of the season, so we can probably get him for a decent price. We’ve been talking about it on the Ramble for a long time, and we like him. “I’m all for Dunne coming in this January.”
| Jimmy Dunne QPR stats 2024/25 (FotMob)* | |
|---|---|
| Appearances (starts) | 28 (28) |
| Minutes played | 2520 |
| Goals (assists) | 4 (1) |
| xG | 3.63 |
| Shots (on target) | 37 (15) |
| Pass accuracy | 76% |
| Tackles won | 34 |
| Duels won | 217 |
| Aerial duels won | 133 |
| *Stats correct as of 24/01/2025 | |
Dunne’s versatility will be useful for Wilder
Although Dunne may be used at centre-back if Sheffield United sign him, he appears to be a natural at right-back, and his versatility to play in both positions will be immensely valuable to Wilder.
At 27, he has plenty of championship experience, and there is little doubt that he will be able to make the transition to one of the division’s top teams.
However, his prospective exit would be a significant loss for QPR, especially if he left for a cost that does not adequately reflect his quality and ability.
Sheffield United will gain significantly from Dunne’s contract expiring soon, making him particularly vulnerable to bids from the Blades over the next week and a half as deadline day approaches.
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