Sheffield United could land a better deal than Rothwell with £7m ‘monster’

Sheffield United have had a checkered season to say the least, with the Blades once sitting at the foot of the Championship during Ruben Seles’ disastrous mini-reign.

Thankfully, the former Hull City manager was in charge at Bramall Lane for just six games before the South Yorkshire side decided it made sense and Chris Wilder handed the reins back after a demoralizing run of six defeats.

Unfortunately, despite his glittering Championship resume, Wilder hasn’t been a total miracle since his return, winning just 11 of 28 league games and lifting United to a mid-table 17th place.

Still, the Blades are just nine points behind Wrexham for the final play-off spot and have several January signings, meaning Joe Rothwell could potentially swap Ibrox for Bramall Lane.

Latest information on Roswell’s future

The stuttering promotion hopefuls are clearly prioritizing midfield reinforcements this January.

Unfortunately, Dan Neil will not join Wilder’s ranks as a new central player, with former United target Wilder opting to move to divisional side Ipswich Town rather than move to Yorkshire.

Rothwell may be able to help here. United are said to be tentatively linked with a last-minute loan move for the former Leeds United loanee, with Sky Sports revealing the Glasgow giants intend to listen to offers for the reserve midfielder ahead of the February deadline.

Wilder and his team could also consider permanently releasing Rothwell, who is yet to feature in a league game under manager Danny Rolle. Rothwell has won promotion twice to the Championship, but Scottish Premiership side Titans are prepared to allow him to leave permanently.

Yet, despite his impressive history at level, United could be in a better position to pursue the signing of another midfield target in Frank Onyeka, and the Nigerian could be a better signing than the forgotten Gers number six.

Why Onyeka is a better deal than Rothwell

Rothwell has been a victim of his circumstances at Ibrox, with former Rangers manager Russell Martin hailing him as a “huge asset” to Glasgow when he first put pen to paper to move to Scotland.

Rothwell has been in the shadows at the Glasgow club since Martin was given his marching orders, with one Rangers-based podcaster saying his performances under the previous regime were “rotten”.

These are somewhat fair comments given his subdued display so far in Rangers blue, with just one assist in a Premiership game, with the Englishman averaging just two wins per game in five league starts, according to SofaScore.

The worry may be that the 31-year-old is not suited for the intense battle that awaits him at Bramall Lane, as Wilder’s side look to make their way through a crowded area. Leeds’ average number of duels won in the 2024/25 season is similarly weak at 1.8.

On the contrary, Onyeka has always stood out as a tireless option from the middle of the park for both club and country, with the Super Eagles international averaging a high 3.4 duels won during the Bees’ 2023/24 season when he was a regular under Thomas Frank.

This is much more in line with Neil’s profile, with Rothwell’s more creative tendencies already being filled by Callum O’Hare, which Wilder clearly covets.

Onyeka suffered the same fate as Rothwell, being left out of the team’s first-team plans, but that did not prevent him from putting in an “extraordinary” performance for Nigeria, just as his national teammate Chidoji Awaziem delivered an energetic and lyrical performance at the recent African Cup of Nations.

Despite coming last for Keith Andrews’ team in the Premier League in early October, Onyeka performed competently throughout the heated tournament, posting an impressive 89% passing accuracy.

However, it was his ability to engage in non-stop duels that was most admired, with journalist Babatunde Koiki hailing him as a “midfield monster”. Additionally, commentator Ralph Chidsey-George hailed him as a “well-oiled machine” who showed no signs of rusting from his lack of appearances at Brentford.

The hope is that the 28-year-old approaches the championship with the same energy as before. His ability allows him to line up in any position in midfield and even act as centre-back if needed, which would feel like a very shrewd deal to win.

It remains to be seen whether United will get a late signing, but if it comes down to signing the declining Rothwell or signing Onyeka, who is valued at £7m, Wilder would be better off targeting Brentford’s number 15.