This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict’ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more

Relegated Sheffield United are one of a number of teams interested in Stoke City midfielder Sam Clucas, according to The Sun's Alan Nixon.

The 30-year-old would be available for no transfer fee as the Potters seemingly want to get his wage off the books, and it's alerted Championship clubs to his services.

The Blades, along with Blackburn, Millwall and Nottingham Forest have all been credited with an interest in Clucas, who cost Stoke a transfer fee of £6 million from Swansea in 2018 when they were relegated back to the Championship.

But the Staffordshire club are set to make a loss on him this summer - would he be a good signing for Sheffield United though and would he add something different to their midfield? We asked the FLW team for their thoughts...

Chris Thorpe

A bit of a strange one for me as Sheffield United are well stocked in midfield and in all honesty, I don’t see where Clucas would fit in.

There’s no doubting that he has a great pedigree at Championship level and would be a good signing but is he really needed? I have my doubts.

He’s developed into an all round midfield player after being a slightly nifty winger at Chesterfield during his younger years and its been interesting to watch his progression.

At his age you can understand why he’d be looking for one last pay day before hanging up his boots, so maybe a move to Bramall Lane could be right for him.

I’d be shocked if Stoke let him leave easily but their financial issues are there for all to see.

 

 

 

 

Jordan Rushworth

This would be a a very good signing for Sheffield United to make, with Clucas a player with a lot of proven pedigree in the Championship and someone that could make a difference for them as they aim to get back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Clucas is a talented player and to sign him on a free transfer would be an excellent piece of business for the Blades this summer.

It is a move that would make a lot of sense given they will need to add to their midfield options and have already been linked with Tom Cairney.

The midfielder is someone that has the ability to score goals and create chances from the middle of the park, and that is something that would add an extra dimension to Sheffield United’s current group of options in the midfield area.

This is the type of smart signing that they need to be making this summer if they are to have a chance of going straight back up. They might need to move fast to secure his signature with other teams interested.

George Harbey

I'm not quite sure what I make of this to be honest.

First and foremost, though, United clearly need midfield reinforcements, especially with John Lundstram leaving at the end of his contract.

Tom Cairney has obviously been mentioned as a potential target, and it doesn't surprise me to see another British midfielder in Sam Clucas being linked too.

Clucas has cost a lot of money in the past, but for me, he hasn't been able to live up to those expectations since moving to Stoke.

He is a good midfielder who can operate in a number of roles, but consistency is his biggest issue and I think he needs a fresh start.

A manager like Jokanovic could get the best out of him.