Sheffield United defender, Chris Basham, is one of the most lauded players in the current Blades squad.
‘Bash’ has been with the club since the days of League One. He’s enjoyed a meteoric rise under the management of Chris Wilder. Converted from a midfielder into a marauding ‘overlapping centre-back-, Basham is loved by the Sheffield United faithful.
Chris Basham has been brilliant for the Blades for six years now. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
With United and Basham doing so well in the Premier League, it makes little sense to think of replacing him at the moment.
However, it would be remiss of the club to not be thinking long-term when it comes to Chris Basham. Being in the Premier League means the club always need to be looking to improve.
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At 31-years-old, he’s not the youngest player in the squad. His role, too, means as age catches up with him, things could become harder to maintain.
Being an attacking centre-back is no easy feat. It needs someone who is good on the ball and also defensively sound.
Furthermore, it needs a player who can fit into the team ethos of Sheffield United and learn from Basham’s experience.
With that, then, we’ve identified THREE potential replacements for Chris Basham in 2020…
Joe Rodon
The Swansea defender was linked with a move to Bramall Lane earlier in the season.
Joe Rodon has already been linked with a move to Sheffield United. (Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)
He’s of the right age and is good on the ball, a trait any potential replacement for Basham will need to be.
Rodon is already a full Welsh international. He won’t come cheap, but replacing your best players is never going to be. It all depends what the Blades fancy paying.
Ben White
Brighton defender Ben White has been enjoying a superb season with Leeds United this year.
He moved to Elland Road on loan in the summer and has gone from strength to strength under Marcelo Bielsa.
Ben White has been impressive for Leeds United this season. (Photo by Pat Scaasi/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
White would, no doubt, cost a big sum of money. However, he’s certainly one to consider, especially given Brighton spent a big chunk of money on Adam Webster in the summer and already have Lewis Dunk.
Whether he’d be as comfortable as Basham breaking forward, is another big question too.
Jayden Bogle
Rather than looking at traditional centre-backs, Chris Wilder could look at a younger option with potential to mould them into a right-sided centre-back.
Jayden Bogle, then, at 19, could prove an ideal candidate. Of course, Bogle’s skill-set is more suited to marauding down the wing and getting crosses into the box. However, he is defensively sound and with the right sort of coaching and management, could well be converted.
Jayden Bogle is a right-back but could well be harnassed into a more central position. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Bogle would be an expensive punt and a risk. But in a position where so few players are comfortable, it might well be a risk worth taking.
