Fighting for promotion to the Championship this season, Sheffield United currently sit third in League One; two points behind Bolton and six points behind leaders Scunthorpe United.

With the likes of Bradford also breathing down their necks, the Blades need to ensure they remain competitive throughout the entire course of the season and January will be a crucial time for the club, as they'll look to complete the sort of deals that can help them secure a top-two spot.

A lethal striker would go a long way to helping the Blades achieve promotion, as well as aiding the club in their return to the second-tier of English football, and there's options for them to look at in the New Year that are realistic.

Fighting off competition for said players will be difficult but the Blades are a big enough club to attract suitors and these four players could jump at the chance if an opportunity to move to the League One title chasers presented itself.

Alex Reid

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Unknown to many, the non-league striker has attracted the attention of local rivals Sheffield Wednesday but the Blades could be able to offer more regular playing time to the former Aston Villa youngster, who's become a scoring sensation.

The 20-year-old has netted an incredible 13 goals in 15 matches for Rushall Olympic, having hit 26 goals last term, and he could be set to follow in the footsteps of Jamie Vardy to become a powerhouse of the English game.

With his scoring ability and young age, Reid would be a solid investment and would present plenty of opportunity to sell for a profit further down the line.

Danny Ward

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A better-known striker already making waves in Yorkshire is Rotherham United's Danny Ward, who has already netted eight goals for the relegation-threatened side in the Championship this season.

Things may look bleak for Rotherham but it's not the case for Ward.

He could be tempted to jump ship in January and a move to the Blades would suit him, as it wouldn't be a massive move away from his current surroundings and he'd join a side that's looking to achieve success.

With the form of the 25-year-old, Ward could be the catalyst to propel the Blades towards promotion.

Shamir Mullings

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Another non-league sensation, Shamir Mullings has attracted interest from Peterborough United and Gillingham Town- but Sheffield United would certainly be able to beat their League One rivals to the striker's signature if they entered the race for his services.

The 23-year-old only signed for current outfit Chelmsford Town on a one-year deal in the summer, so they need to offload in January if they are to make a profit. Giving the fact the striker has netted 14 goals in 21 appearances, it's fair to assume he won't be staying in Essex for the long-term.

A decent age, talented in front of goal and certainly a realistic option, Mullings could be a January bargain for the Blades.

Conor Chaplin

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Another young English talent that would fit in perfectly at Sheffield United is Portsmouth's 19-year-old striker Conor Chaplin, who's made waves in League Two this season by scoring five goals for the South Coast side.

Although he's numbers aren't perhaps the best, Chaplin possesses great ability and incredible potential to be a star in the future. As well as helping the Blades in their promotion push, Chaplin is the sort of player they can build a side around in the coming years.

Chaplin has attracted a wealth of interest from top-sides but moving from League Two to League One would be a sensible career move.