Sheffield United are currently in a period of transition following the sacking of Slavisa Jokanovic and the subsequent appointment of Paul Heckingbottom at Bramall Lane. 

Many eyebrows were raised over the appointment of the 44-year-old, however he is someone that knows the club well from coaching in the academy and previously taking in a spell as caretaker manager following Chris Wilder's departure last season.

Indeed his tenure got off to the perfect start on Sunday, with the Blades putting in a string performance as they saw off Bristol City 2-0 on home turf thanks to goals from Rhian Brewster and Bill Sharp.

Now with the new year appearing on the horizon, Heckingbottom will undoubtedly be putting his plans into action as he eyes some potential business in the January transfer window.

Here, we take you through some of the main transfer talking points from around Bramall Lane ahead of the window.

Forest targeting ace

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Nottingham Forest were said to be keen on bringing Brewster to their club in January, with the youngster having previously worked under the Reds' manager Steve Cooper during their time at Swansea City.

However a fresh report by Eurosport has now suggested that a potential move away from Bramall Lane for the striker is dead in the water after Heckingbottom handed the player a chance to prove himself with the Steel City side.

Brewster has endured a difficult start to his Sheffield United career but certainly looked the real deal at the weekend as he scored in the win over Bristol City.

He will now be looking to kick on in the long term under the new manager.

West Ham keen on defender

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West Ham United are said to be keen on signing Sheffield United's Liverpool loanee, Ben Davies in the new year, as per a recent report by The Sun.

David Moyes is said to be a fan of the player that is currently at Bramall Lane on a temporary basis and it has been suggested that Liverpool could look to cut short their agreement with the Blades if an offer to buy the player is forthcoming from elsewhere.

Davies has featured 13 times in the league this season for Sheffield United and was in and out of the side under Jokanovic.

It remains to be seen where he features in Heckingbottom's plans moving forwards.

Middlesbrough eye duo

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Middlesbrough are said to be eyeing up a double swoop for both Chris Basham and Oliver Burke in January, as per a recent report by TEAMtalk.

The North East outfit are now managed by Chris Wilder, who is seemingly intent on a reunion with two of his former players in the new year.

Basham has featured regularly for the Blades this term but is set to see his current contract with the club expire in the summer of the new year, thus throwing his long term future into doubt.

Meanwhile Burke is more on the periphery of the squad at present, meaning that he appears more likely to be open to a move away in the new year if the right offer is forthcoming.