Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder says he is “excited” about potential incoming signings in January.

Wilder has made securing an attacking midfielder and a striker his priority in the upcoming transfer window. And with 11 days still to go until that opens, it seems some deals may already be close.

“It’s plainly obvious, we want to – need to – boost the group in January with two or three players coming in. We want to up the level. Good players are never scared of competition,” the Blades boss told the Sheffield Star.

“We are quite excited about one or two that we have worked really hard to make happen. Maybe one we will have to wait on.”

Who is Wilder targeting?

Some United fans think that they have figured out who the attacking midfielder will be.

The usually reliable @SportsPeteO says we are close to getting Kieran Dowell from Everton. Wilder sure seemed confident in his comment about a early deal #sufc #twitterblades

— Berkshire Blade (@Berkshireblade) December 20, 2018

Keiran Dowell, ill have some of that in January #SUFC

— Coley⚔️ (@UpTheBlades24) December 20, 2018

Kieran Dowell? Yep, that’d do *very* nicely #sufc

— Richard (@RichardjsS14) December 20, 2018

I bet @deanhenderson has had a little word with @kierandowell1 😉👏 #sufc #twitterblades

— Lukeeeee ⚔️ (@lahblade) December 20, 2018

Thoughts on Kieran Dowell From a Forest mate of mine 🤔…

very skilful bit fancy, got a cracking left foot but goes missing. Will look good when you’re winning but don’t think he’s got the work ethic for you lot… struggled to get in at Forest in the end #sufc

— Blue Portal Telecom (@blueportaluk) December 20, 2018

As one Blades supporter points out, this rumour appears to have started with a piece written by Pete O’Rourke for Football Insider.

It is a potential transfer that makes sense, however, with Kieran Dowell having made just two appearances for Everton this season – both in the Carabao Cup.

It appears Dowell is not in Marco Silva’s first team plans at Goodison Park, despite impressing while on loan at Nottingham Forest in 2017/18.

(Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)

Although one United fan says the 21-year-old goes missing in games and lacks work ethic, he still scored an impressive ten goals in 43 matches for Forest last term.

This is despite the fact Dowell operates chiefly as a number ten. However, it is true he did not play in the Reds’ final six Championship outings, but then the England Under-21 international is still young and learning his craft.

Overall this looks like a fantastic deal for United if completed.