While Liverpool took another giant stride towards only a second-ever Premier League title on Saturday against West Ham, the emotions over in South Yorkshire were very different indeed.
Liverpool’s dominance of the domestic scene under Arne Slot has made the mere prospect of a ‘title race’ feel rather moot for a while now. Thirteen points clear of Arsenal in second.
But if it’s drama you are looking for, then look no further than the division below.
While the Premier League has descended into a one-horse race this term, Liverpool the pedigree stallion amongst a cacophony of mules, Sheffield United are now in very real danger of missing out via a photo finish.
Chris Wilder’s side had glory in sight. But, stumbling over the penultimate few hurdles, an untimely and potentially season-defining run of three straight defeats have left The Blades on the wrong side of the automatic-promotion divide.
So, understandably, a suddenly under-pressure and seemingly imploding Wilder has spent little time pouring over the gossip columns. Suggestions that Liverpool are intensifying their pursuit of Ryan One – Sheffield United’s teenage centre-forward – have rather slipped under his radar.
Chris Wilder reacts as Liverpool target Sheffield United striker Ryan One
Last week, football correspondent Graeme Bailey exclusively told RTK that Liverpool are ready to make a move for the Scotland Under-21 international this summer.
Ryan One appeared on the Anfield radar in January, and remains there heading into the off-season.
Liverpool see huge potential in the 18-year-old. It is believed that One – pronounced ‘Oh-nay’, not like the number – could rise quickly through the club’s youth ranks and onto the cusp of Arne Slot’s first-team plans.
Fabrizio Romano, meanwhile, claims that Ipswich Town see One as a potential successor for Liam Delap. Interestingly, Liverpool have been linked with ex-Manchester City starlet Delap, albeit his most likely destinations appear to be Chelsea or Manchester United.
“Well, [Romano] is the man in the know,” Wilder says coyly. “Ryan One’s under contract for the next 20 years here so don’t worry about that!”
Wilder says Scotland starlet has ‘huge future’ at Bramall Lane
Well, not quite.
One’s contract actually runs until the summer of 2029. Wilder will also know, having lost Will Osula [Newcastle United] and Jayden Bogle [Leeds] against his will last summer, there will be an offer which his Sheffield United bosses find impossible to turn down.
“Ryan’s got a huge future in front of him, and his future is in a red and white shirt,” Wilder protests.
“I want to build a future around all my players. There are always players who will leave in the summer and come in in the summer.
“I spoke to the owners about how we must secure our best players and talking about contract situations and making sure we don’t run contracts down, unless players don’t want to be here.
“Then, you can’t really do anything about that. You can’t force them to sign. But there’s no sign of anybody this season talking about leaving or [that] doesn’t want to come here. They’ve been all-in which they have to be.
“That is the way it should be, and how it needs to be.”
Ryan One is not the only exciting young attacker on the radar, by the way.
Bailey explains that Liverpool scouted Argentina wonderkids Ian Subiabre and Augstin Ruberto too, while their River Plate teammate Franco Mastantuono is another under consideration at Anfield.
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