Two serial Championship promotion winners will continue to trade blows at the very top of the second tier table as Daniel Farke and Chris Wilder butt heads for their respective sides in Leeds United and Sheffield United.
Combined, the German and the Sheffield-born manager have both managed to pick up a staggering six promotions on their managerial resumes, with another perhaps falling onto their CVs come the close of the dramatic campaign.
Unlike Farke, however, Wilder has been a success in the daunting Premier League, with the ex-Norwich City boss notoriously guilty of falling straight back down to the EFL.
On the contrary, the 57-year-old managed to pull off an unbelievable ninth-place finish for the Blades during the 2019/20 season, as the likes of Billy Sharp and Co played without fear in the big time.
It’s unlikely that the much-loved boss would be able to do this straight away if his side were to sneak back up to the top-flight, but he will hope his team would be able to put in an adequate fight.
After all, if promotion was to be sealed, United would have to be very busy in the transfer window, with the XI below what Wilder could well have at his disposal in a dream scenario…
1
GK – Michael Cooper
Wilder would likely stick by his number one goalkeeper in Michael Cooper if promotion was achieved, with the ex-Plymouth Argyle shot-stopper a revelation in between the sticks for the Blades since joining last summer.
The £2m forked out for the 25-year-old looks to be a bargain now when you consider Cooper has kept 19 clean sheets in second-tier action this season, meaning he might adjust well to the demands of the top-flight.
2
RB – Jonjoe Kenny
Unlike the ‘keeper spot at Bramall Lane, the right-back position has been a problem area in South Yorkshire all campaign long.
The likes of Alfie Gilchrist, Harry Clarke and Femi Seriki have all lined up here this season, but promotion could result in United finally winning long-term target Jonjoe Kenny.
A deal looked as though it was on the table in the January window only for a deal to fall through after the two clubs could not agree a transfer fee.
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The ex-Everton man stands out as an expansive full-back option at current employers Hertha Berlin with seven assists next to his name in the 2. Bundesliga, meaning he could be just what Wilder wants in this part of the pitch.
3
CB – Anel Ahmedhodzic
Anel Ahmedhodzic managed to come away from United’s demoralising relegation at the end of the 2023/24 campaign with his head held high, having won 4.5 duels per clash that season, even as the Blades finished rock bottom of the league.
The Bosnian will be raring to go again in the Premier League with the United titan formidable at the back in the second tier, with his defensive expertise currently seeing 14 clean sheets be picked up.
4
CB – Andrew Omobamidele
Much like the right-back spot, Wilder’s men will be light on numbers in the centre-back department next season with loanee Rob Holding returning back to Crystal Palace.
Therefore, the Blades could attempt to snap up Republic of Ireland international Andrew Omobamidele who is shining out on loan with RC Strasbourg currently, away from parent side Nottingham Forest.
The Irishman has come away from his four Ligue 1 contests to date with a 94% pass accuracy on average, resulting in Omobamidele perhaps striking up a healthy working relationship with the more imposing Ahmedhodzic.
5
LB – Harrison Burrows
Harrison Burrows would love to work alongside Kenny in the full-back positions with the ex-Peterborough United man equally a gung-ho body down the left.
Five goals and three assists have come Burrows’ way subsequently, as the 23-year-old potentially prepares to navigate the tricky step-up soon.
6
CM – Hamza Choudhury
Wilder would be jumping for joy if he could land Hamza Choudhury on a permanent deal after his loan deal from Leicester City expires.
Already, Choudhury has impressed in defensive midfield with three ball recoveries averaged per league clash, on top of the fact the 27-year-old can also gift his team some needed experience by boasting 57 top-flight appearances.
7
CM – Vinicius Souza
To shore up his team even more in the Premier League, Wilder would likely call upon Vinicius Souza to partner the returning Choudhury.
Whilst he has just one goal contribution to shout about in the second tier for 2024/25, the Brazilian has rarely put a foot wrong when battling away for his high-flying team, with 6.9 duels won per match from his 28 league appearances.
In the pits of a relegation battle, the 25-year-old could gift his team some much-needed grit and steel.
8
RM – Ben Brereton Diaz
Away from those who will be picked to be primarily dogged, Wilder will hope Ben Brereton Diaz sticks it out permanently in South Yorkshire to gift his team some firepower up top.
Capable of playing down the right flank or as a traditional centre-forward, the first of these two positions has given the Chilean a lot of joy on his Bramall Lane return, seen in his promising tally of three goals and three assists from 12 league games.
9
CAM – Callum O’Hare
Whilst Rhian Brewster has been given the nod recently in the number ten spot, Callum O’Hare is the likely figure that will be picked here if Premier League football is on the menu.
After all, Brewster has never scored for the Blades in the top flight, meaning he could find himself out of his depth again.
Moreover, O’Hare trumps the ex-Liverpool man’s numbers in the second tier this season, with a glowing eight goal contributions next to Brewster’s lesser seven.
10
LM – Gustavo Hamer
Much like Ahmedhodzic before him, Gustavo Hamer has proven himself in the past as a somewhat Premier League-ready performer for Wilder and Co.
Ten goal contributions were posted by the former Coventry City man even as relegation loomed on the horizon, with his ever-growing total now of eight goals and five assists from 35 second tier games making promotion feel near.
11
ST – Josh Sargent
Wilder won’t want to get rid of any of his current attacking options in the top-flight, but if an opportunity presented itself for Josh Sargent to join from Norwich City, this would obviously be too tantalising to turn down.
Ranked as the best forward in the second tier by Football League World, Sargent actually betters Tyrese Campbell this season in the Championship with a lethal 13 strikes picked up from 26 league outings, with the ex-Stoke City man only on ten in contrast.
With Farke also known to be an avid admirer of the American, this would be a kick in the teeth for Leeds if Sargent was to star in South Yorkshire.
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