Sheffield United fell short of reaching the play-off final in 2021/22, yet their form under Paul Heckingbottom in the Championship was outstanding and there’s plenty of positivity floating around Bramall Lane this summer.

Languishing in mid-table when Heckingbottom was appointed, the Blades were going nowhere.

So, by the time their play-off dream was ended, to be only a penalty shootout away from the play-off final was a remarkable achievement.

There’s every chance that, 12 months down the line, we could be talking about Sheffield United as a Premier League side again, should Heckingbottom manage to replicate what he did last season.

Key to that will be a clear and productive summer transfer window, with plenty to fall into place for the club.

With that in mind, we take a look at EIGHT scenarios that might play out now that the 2021/22 campaign has officially concluded.

Wes Foderingham will be retained and he should start next season as first choice at Bramall Lane.

Yet, it’s his back-up that’s causing a headache at this moment in time.

An offer is on the table for Adam Davies to remain at the club, despite the fact he never played a minute after signing from Stoke City.

If that’s signed, job done. However, if it isn’t, the Blades will be on the lookout for Foderingham’s cover.

Jack O’Connell’s long-term injury rules him out of any certain involvement next season.

Jack Robinson was Heckingbottom’s go-to option on the left of his back-three for the play-offs, ahead of Liverpool loanee Ben Davies.

There’s the need for more depth in the back-three either side of John Egan, yet a quality, left-footed option feels much harder to find.

It’ll be a priority before long for Heckingbottom and the club’s recruitment team.

Lowe featured from the bench for Nottingham Forest in their play-off final victory over Huddersfield Town on Sunday, rounding off a fine loan spell at the City Ground with promotion.

What the future holds for the left wing-back now remains to be seen and will largely rest on Forest stumping up a decent fee to sign him permanently, if they want him.

For now, he’s a Sheffield United player, yet the coming weeks will likely tell us whether that will be the case again next season.

Berge remains one of Sheffield United’s major assets and he proved that with his performances in the second-half of last season, after he’d freed himself of injury.

The midfielder was superb and showed that he is Premier League quality.

The question that remains, then, is whether or not a club puts an offer to Sheffield United to take him back to the top-flight – either in England or abroad.

It’ll take big money or Sheffield United will stand firm, just as they did 12 months ago.

Berge could be someone that drops deeper to prevent John Fleck and Oliver Norwood playing big minutes in the Championship next season, yet there’s probably the need to source some genuine competition in the coming window.

Conor Hourihane’s loan has come to an end, which means from the squad last season, there’s a midfield berth to fill.

Ben Osborn can do a job in that central area, like Berge, yet his strengths are probably elsewhere.

A new player coming in might be the Blades’ best bet to add some depth to the engine room.

Burke spent time on loan with Millwall last season across the Championship, impressing after he was granted a fresh start, albeit on a temporary basis.

You’d imagine that there’s no future for the 25-year-old at Bramall Lane, despite the fact he’s still contracted to the club.

Should a decent offer come in from Millwall, or another club, it’s hard to see Sheffield United standing in the forward’s way of making a fresh start, this time permanently.

Jebbison returned from Burton Albion in January after a decent stint in League One on loan.

Heckingbottom clearly rates the young forward and wanted him on board to bolster his own squad.

However, you can’t really argue that Jebbison played enough football during the second-half of the season and, when Billy Sharp, Oli McBurnie and Rhian Brewster are fit again, he will be even further down the pecking order.

You would fully understand Sheffield United considering any loan offers for him.

The current make-up of the squad would suggest that Jebbison is the fourth part of Heckingbottom’s striking unit.

However, sending him out on loan and signing someone with a touch more experience to complement Sharp, McBurnie and Brewster feels sensible.

Someone of David McGoldrick’s ilk would be ideal. He’s leaving Bramall Lane this summer, but he’s leaving behind a real hole in the attacking unit.

McGoldrick was the king of dropping deep and creating for the likes of Sharp, McBurnie and Brewster, who all carry a significant box threat.

Striking that balance within the attacking unit next season will be important.