Sheffield United should consider joining the race to sign Manchester United winger Dan James.
The South Yorkshire club have been strongly linked with a move for James’ teammate Jesse Lingard this month.
Manager Chris Wilder is keen to sign a creative midfielder on loan during the January transfer window.
Lingard is a top target, with Wilder having apparently even sent a presentation dossier to the 28-year-old to convince him to join.
Yet there are some problems. The first is whether Lingard actually wants to move to Bramall Lane.
There have been reports that the England international is reluctant to join a relegation fight.
MORE UNITED STORIES
Then there is the money. Lingard earns around £100,000-a-week at Old Trafford, which is way beyond what the Blades are paying their top earners currently.
Should they consider Manchester United teammate James instead?
There is no doubting that Wilder needs to add some attacking impetus to his midfield.
Last season, both John Fleck and John Lundstram were excellent as box-to-box players and bagged five Premier League goals apiece.
This term both have suffered a dip in form and just one goal has come from midfield – with Sander Berge scoring a penalty against Liverpool.
Lingard could certainly provide that flair, but should the Blades also be considering other options?
James is another Man United player that could leave in January. The Mirror reports the 23-year-old could leave on a temporary deal.
Brighton and Hove Albion, Burnley, Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion are all thought to be interested.
Where would James fit in?
As a natural winger, the Wales international doesn’t seem like an obvious choice for the Blades.
In Wilder’s 3-5-2 system, the width is provided by the wing-backs. There is no room for a winger.
Yet Oli Burke arrived from West Brom last summer and is considered a wide man, but has adapted well to a more central role,
James has the talent to do something similar and operate in either a front three or just behind the two strikers.
His direct running and pace causes opposition defenders problems. They’re also traits distinctly lacking in this Blades squad – aside from the aforementioned Burke.
There would clearly be competition for James, but as an alternative to Lingard the Welshman is a great prospect.