Should Sheffield United raid bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday for Sam Winnall?
According to The Sheffield Star, Sheffield United are rumored to have enquired about Sheffield Wednesday striker Sam Winnall. The centre-forward has clubbed-hopped, mostly on loan deals, since coming through Wolverhampton Wanderers ranks in the 2010/11 season. Indeed, the 27 year-old has already switched one South Yorkshire club for another within the last two years, ditching Barnsley for Sheffield Wednesday in January 2017.
Winnall spent all of last season, except the first month, on loan at Derby County. Winnall scored 7 goals in 19 Championship appearances but is currently recovering from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury suffered in February, which ruled him out for the rest of the season.
With The Owls boasting the likes of Fernando Forestieri, Gary Hooper, Steven Fletcher, Atdhe Nuhiu and Lucas Joao in their ranks, Winnall would find it hard to break into the starting line-up when he recovers. Winnall is still under contract at Hillsborough for two more years.
It would be interesting see whether the Blades manager, Chris Wilder, succeeds in luring Winnall away from the Owls. If the deal does go through, Sam, who can play as a centre-forward, secondary striker and left-winger, would become only the 30th player to cross the Steel City divide.
Tough on the tackle and armed with defensive awareness, Winnall is almost surplus to requirements at Hillsborough. However, he would suit United’s system quite well. Excellent at holding onto the ball, winning aerial duels and making headed attempts, he will offer a different dimension in the final third.
He is also great at supplying passes and his finishing skills are top-notch. Hence, Bramall Lane might just be the place where he finally proves himself in the Championship.
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Although a deal cannot be completely ruled out, it seems unlikely for the time being. Winnall is still nursing his ACL injury and moreover, very few clubs would be willing to sell and strengthen their direct rivals. Considered one of the most passionate and heated rivalries in England since 1891, it would be unlikely for Winnall to switch from one Steel City club to the other.
