Sheffield United have signed a total of seven players – as they gear up for the first game of the season away at Bournemouth.
Chris Wilder has signed players from the Championship who he believes can make the jump up to the Premier League.
One signing Wilder has made that fits this profile is Callum Robinson – who arrived from Preston North End after a decent season in the Championship where he scored 12 goals.
Overall, Robinson’s record for Preston was not great scoring 41 goals in 160 appearances; however, the signs were there last season that Robinson is developing into a good striker and Wilder has decided to take a risk and sign him.
The 24-year-old has cost the Blades around £8m and has already impressed in pre-season scoring three times so far – including a brace against Barnsley in a 4-1 win for Sheffield United.
It is hard to judge a player purely on pre-season performances, but the manner of Robinson’s goals should please Wilder.
His first goal was a brilliant piece of individual skill – which ended with Robinson curling a beautiful shot into the far corner from just inside the box.
The second goal was also a good finish but was more down to natural goalscoring instinct – as a superb ball was whipped to the back post, and there was Robinson to guide the ball home.
Both good finishes for different reasons and if Robinson can replicate this in the Premier League, then Wilder may have bagged himself a bargain.
Wilder’s method of buying Championship players he thinks can play in the Premier League may turn out to be genius, or it could be a total failure, but the signs from Robinson at least are positive.