Reda Khadra among 3 signings in Sheffield United XI for opening day vs Watford

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Sheffield United are interested in signing Reda Khadra of Brighton & Hove Albion, but will be without Tommy Doyle on the opening day of the season against Watford due to his injury.

Doyle is one of three done deals Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom has so far secured ahead of visiting Vicarage Road on August 1. The Bramall Lane natives start the new campaign on the road to the recently-relegated Hornets, after missing out on promotion via the play-offs.

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Sheffield United lost to Nottingham Forest in the 2021/22 semi-finals this May after ending the regular season in fifth-place. Watford, on the other hand, immediately returned to the second-tier last term after ending the Premier League season in 19th, 15 points off safety.

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Sheffield United are interested in signing Reda Khadra of Brighton

Heckingbottom is hopeful Sheffield United can add to their three done deals to date ahead of visiting Watford next Monday. The Blades will also be without a summer arrival in Doyle at Vicarage Road as the Manchester City loanee continues his recovery from a thigh injury.

Doyle is following a tailor-made fitness programme under head of performance Tom Little to accelerate his rehabilitation. The injury kept Doyle from playing in each of the Blades’ pre-season friendly ties, but the 20-year-old has now returned to training on the grass pitches.

Khadra is a target who Heckingbottom is interested in signing before visiting Watford, with Sheffield United in talks with Brighton. The Star report the German’s representatives have offered the Blades encouragement that his loan will be agreed in time to face the Hornets.

Heckingbottom is also confident in getting a deal done in time. He said, via The Star: “Yes. What’s the point otherwise? It’s a loan and we want to take him in. If you were asking me for the first time, I’d say Khadra’s not far away and I’m confident of getting him in.”

Khadra joining Sheffield United in time to face Watford could allow Heckingbottom to start the versatile talent among three summer signings on the opening day of the new campaign.

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Wes Foderingham will be chasing the Golden Glove award over the 2022/23 Championship season. The goalkeeper ranked second across the division last term behind Bournemouth’s Mark Travers (20 in 45) with 18 clean sheets across 32 regular-season league appearances.

George Baldock (RWB): Jayden Bogle to miss start of season through injury

George Baldock will likely start the season as Heckingbottom’s first-choice option at right-wing back while Jayden Bogle recovers from an injury. The 21-year-old is expected to miss at least the opening third of the season, leaving Baldock as the Blades’ only natural option.

Anel Ahmedhodzic (CB): Sheffield United beat Strasbourg to sign Malmo star

Sheffield United beat interest from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg to sign Anel Ahmedhodzic from Malmo for €3.5m (£3m) this July. The 23-year-old can play across Heckingbottom’s central options, but the 18-cap Bosnia & Herzegovina international should feature from the right.

Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images

Chris Basham (CB): Blades’ backline star to face heightened competition

Chris Basham faces heighted competition for his place in Heckingbottom’s plans now, but should rise to the challenge. The 33-year-old led Sheffield United from central defence last season and proved to be a big miss while he recovered from a medial knee ligament injury.

Ciaran Clark (CB): Sheffield United sign Newcastle defender on loan

Heckingbottom has shown strong interest in strengthening Sheffield United’s defence this summer with Ciaran Clark also signing on loan from Newcastle United. The 32-year-old will spend the season at Bramall Lane after falling out of favour last term with 14 appearances.

Max Lowe (LWB): Paul Heckingbottom confirms star is staying at Bramall Lane

Olympiacos have shown an interest in signing Max Lowe this summer, but Heckingbottom has confirmed the defender is staying at Sheffield United. The Star report the Greek giants offered less than £2m plus add-ons for the Bramall Lane natives’ £2m capture from Derby.

“He is staying,” the Blades boss said, via The Yorkshire Post. “There was a ridiculously low bid for Lowey, a lot less than what we paid for him. We like the lad, he’s gone out on loan, helped a team [in Forest] get promoted out of this league. That’s exactly what we want.”

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John Fleck (CM): Midfielder to step up amid Tommy Doyle injury recovery

John Fleck should expect to step up and start at Watford with Doyle absent through injury for the start of the season. The 30-year-old was a constant in Sheffield United’s plans over much of last term, starting 33 of his 37 outings during the regular campaign and play-offs.

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Oliver Norwood will anchor the engine room at Sheffield United once again this term after starting 44 of his 46 league outings last season. The 57-cap Northern Ireland international also laid on four assists and scored one goal over 44 games to gain a place in the play-offs.

Sander Berge (CM): Paul Heckingbottom denies Werder Bremen offer

Sander Berge is likely to stay at Sheffield United this summer after Heckingbottom refuted reports of interest from Werder Bremen. Sky Sports noted the Bundesliga side failed in an £18m raid as the Blades will only consider offers around the £22m they paid Genk in 2020.

“Not correct,” he told BBC Sport of the Norwegian, who hit six goals and assisted four last term. “We’ve had nothing. It’s a big bug bear of mine: anyone can put whatever they want, wherever they want, and all of a sudden it’s fact. Nothing has happened, and that’s it.”

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Reda Khadra (ST): Sheffield United interested in deal for Brighton gem

Sheffield United are interested in signing Khadra from Brighton after the German showed great versatility on loan with Blackburn Rovers last season. The 21-year-old featured from centre-forward, behind a striker and in midfield for five goals and four assists in 27 games.

Billy Sharp (ST): Blades hero back in training in timely Watford boost

Heckingbottom has landed a timely boost ahead of visiting Watford next Monday with Billy Sharp returning to training. The Blades hero has been sidelined since April after suffering a calf tear on the back of scoring 14 and creating seven goals from 39 regular-season games.
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