The Blades are targeting at least one new forward following their promotion to the Premier League. Rodriguez is an attractive prospect due to his £5m release clause.
Brentford top scorer Neal Maupay and Oli McBurnie of Swansea City are also on the wish list. However, they are likely to cost around £20m and £12m respectively.
Manager Chris Wilder is clearly prepared to give leading attackers in the Championship a chance in the top flight. So here are three alternatives from the division.
Che Adams
A former Blade, Adams left Bramall Lane for Birmingham City in 2016 after scoring 15 goals in 55 games. Since then the 22-year-old’s career has developed further and last season he netted 22 times in England’s second tier.
The Daily Echo reports Southampton are interested in Adams – who would cost around £15m. Yet with Sky Sports claiming United are entitled to a 20 percent sell-on clause, they could effectively sign him for 20 percent less than any other club.
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Famara Diedhiou
This would be something of a gamble as despite scoring 13 league goals in 2018/19 for Bristol City, Diedhiou is an inconsistent presence.
On his day the Senegal international looks to be a real talent, but it’s whether Wilder could get that out of him regularly in order to compete in the top flight.
Lukas Jutkiewicz
Another from St Andrew’s now and someone who greatly impressed last term with 14 goals and 10 assists. In fact, Whoscored rate Jutkiewicz as the best player in the division over the past 12 months.
The one issue might be his age, with the former Middlesbrough man having recently turned 30. Yet Rodriguez will also hit the same milestone next month.
Jutkiewicz also has Premier League experience and is about to enter the final year of his current contract, so could be available for a cut-price fee.