Sheffield United are about to land their first signing of the January transfer window – in terms of the first-team anyway – with the Blades set to strike a deal with Stoke City for Welsh goalkeeper, Adam Davies.
Davies, 29, was said to be at Bramall Lane this weekend completing a medical and he is now set to become Paul Heckingbottom’s first signing since taking over as manager. The Daily Mail has reported that United will pay around £250,000 to sign Davies.
The former Barnsley goalkeeper is said to have told Stoke of his intentions to move on before the weekend. Having worked with Paul Heckingbottom before, Davies will come in to provide competition for Wes Foderingham. United have Jake Eastwood on the books, but Robin Olsen’s move to Aston Villa has left a gaping hole.
Davies is a full international having won two caps for Wales. The stopper has made just shy of 300 career appearances, including more than 200 at Barnsley. Crucially, more than 100 of those appearances have come at Championship level.
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Heckingbottom spoke at the weekend about the need to add an experienced stopper to the ranks. In Davies, it appears the Blades boss has finally got his man.
Our View: Davies Perfect For What Sheffield United Need Right Now
It looks like Foderingham has established himself as the number one, so it was about getting someone to push him now and provide actual competition. Davies will do that. At 29, he’s a good age and given he knows Heckingbottom already, there won’t be question marks over his character.
Spending a quarter of a million might be a long way from the millions we were spending in the Premier League. But it’s a case of needs must for United now, and Davies fits the bill perfectly.
With a week left in the window, it remains to be seen whether United can add more faces. Heckingbottom is thought to want a defender, while a new midfielder has also not been ruled out.
