Nunez signs: How Sheffield United's perfect summer transfer window would look | OneFootball

FLW have picked out some ideal signings for the Blades as they look to bounce back from play-off disappointment next season

Sheffield United's season came to a bitterly disappointing end at Wembley on Saturday afternoon, as they lost the Championship play-off final to Sunderland in added-time to be consigned to another campaign in the second-tier.

The Blades kept pace with Leeds United and Burnley throughout most of the season, but fell away at the vital moment over the final few months and so instead had to seek promotion through the play-offs. They eased past Bristol City in the semi-finals, but a late Tommy Watson strike saw the Black Cats clinch a dream return to the Premier League last weekend.

United are surely set to lose some key men this summer as a result of that loss, but the money they recoup for those outgoings and the parachute payments they are set to receive are bound to help them bolster their squad in the transfer window ahead of a potential second-tier title challenge.

With that in mind, Football League World have picked out four players that Chris Wilder should be looking at signing in the coming months to constitute a perfect summer window for the Blades.

Marcelino Nunez

Chilean international Marcelino Nunez has been highly influential in the middle of the park for Norwich City since he joined from Universidad Catolica in August 2022, and United should look to sign him this summer with Gustavo Hamer and Vinicius Souza potentially set to depart.

The Canaries reportedly rejected a £7 million bid for Nunez's services from Everton in the recent winter window, so it is clear how highly-rated he is in English football right now.

He is set to come to the end of his Carrow Road contract next summer, so the club could well be looking to cash in on him in the coming months before he is able to leave for free from next January onwards.

The 25-year-old is a box-to-box midfielder who has the potential to play at a higher level soon, and he registered six goals and four assists in 32 league appearances in the campaign just finished.

The Blades are set to be in need of a player, or multiple players, to fill a potential gap left in the middle of the park by Hamer or Souza's exits, and so he would be an ideal addition for an affordable price this summer.

Tyrhys Dolan

23-year-old Tyrhys Dolan has proven himself as one of the Championship's most exciting attackers over the past few years with Blackburn Rovers, but looks increasingly likely to leave East Lancashire this summer as his contract comes to an end.

The versatile forward has made over 200 appearances and become a fan-favourite at Ewood Park in the four-and-a-half years since his senior debut, and he impressed throughout the recent season with seven goals and six assists in 44 Championship games.

His impending Rovers departure has alerted numerous clubs to his availability this summer, with both Celtic and Rangers linked with a move, while Middlesbrough are reportedly one of the second-tier teams that have him on their list of transfer targets.

Sheffield United need to make a move for him as soon as possible, as the prospect of being in a Championship promotion battle and then potentially going on to play in the Premier League soon would surely make them the favourites for his signature ahead of those aforementioned sides.

Chris Wilder's current options on either flank ahead of the summer are not exactly promotion material, with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Ben Brereton Diaz set to return to their respective parent clubs, so a winger signing is definitely needed.

Blackburn have offered Dolan a new deal, but he looks set to leave the club soon, and it would be a smart move for United to bring him in as a low-risk, high-reward player who is a good age and has sufficient second-tier experience.

Jimmy Dunne

Jimmy Dunne has emerged as one of QPR's most important and consistent players over the last 18 months, but is another key second-tier man who looks set to leave his club this summer as his contract comes to an end next month.

The Republic of Ireland international's impressive performances in the first-half of the season saw him linked with a move to the Blades in the January window by Football League World, but he stayed put in West London and continued to be a standout at the back for the R's.

He is now quickly approaching the end of his deal at Loftus Road, with over 160 appearances for the club under his belt, and United are reportedly set to revisit their previous interest, according to Alan Nixon, as boss Wilder aims to begin his summer rebuild with the free signing of the 27-year-old.

Dunne is a solid Championship defender, and his versatility allows him to play well at either right-back or centre-back. His impressive 2023/24 performances saw him win QPR's Goal of the Season award as well as numerous individual club prizes, and he improved even further in the most recent season to win the Supporters' Player of the Year last month.

United will seal a stellar defensive signing if the Republic of Ireland international joins the club soon, and if he does, he is sure to be an influential figure next season as they aim to gain automatic promotion at the second time of asking.

Harry Darling

Harry Darling joined Swansea from MK Dons in the summer of 2022 on a three-year deal, and he has been a key man at the back for the club under numerous managers over the last three seasons, but now looks set to move on next month when his contract expires.

The 25-year-old is certainly a solid centre-back at Championship level, and he possesses great passing abilities, both short and long-range, as well as a knack for scoring goals, with 12 in 112 appearances for the South Wales side up to now.

United are already thought to have registered their interest in his signature, after he was linked with a move to Bramall Lane in January by The Star, with Wilder wanting to add to his depth at centre-back, but he instead remained with the Swans for the rest of the campaign.

Now that the season has finished, he looks set to depart Swansea for free at the end of his contract next month, with no new updates on his future despite the club offering him hugely improved terms to convince him to continue his footballing journey in South Wales.

If United do wish to bring him in this summer, they are set to face second-tier competition in the form of Birmingham City and Wrexham, with both newly-promoted teams linked with interest in his signature ahead of his likely exit.

It is fair to say that the Blades would be a more attractive option to the 25-year-old than either of those sides, so, with Wilder set to be in real need of new centre-back additions this summer as Rob Holding returns to Crystal Palace after his loan spell, their perfect window would surely include a deal to bring in Darling soon.