Rather surprising Sheffield United speculation has emerged, with journalist Alan Biggs suggesting that Chris Wilder is targeting Southampton striker Shane Long and Jermain Defoe of Bournemouth in a January swoop.

The Premier League pair are currently both on the fringe of their respective first team pictures, with 36-year old Defoe restricted to the odd cameo.

Long has started games for struggling Southampton this season, but his long-term future is far from assured.

The Blades are flying high in the Championship and they've not lacked goals either, but their forward line has an aging quality to it.

Billy Sharp, David McGoldrick and Leon Clarke are all into their thirties although their goals have helped push Wilder's squad forward.

Still, progress waits for no man and it seems as though the Blades boss wants to increase his options this winter. With any big transfer news there are winners and losers, so FLW looks at one of each should this deal go ahead.

The big winner, should this come off, would be Chris Wilder. Once again he will be trusting 30-something players to do a job that few in the football world think they can.

He's a genius when it comes to injecting new life into players and in the case of Shane Long, there's scope for goals. He's a natural finisher and surely if Wilder got him in form, he could hit double figures.

Defoe is in veteran territory now, but what he could bring off the pitch as well as on it would be important.

Is the master of surprise transfers going to do it again?

Leon Clarke has been on the periphery this season, despite his goals last season and any new faces push him further down the pecking order.

It looks like his Blades tenure is coming to an end. His swansong last season was great while it lasted, but he's not been as effective this time around.