Sheffield United are in talks to sign an unlikely ace who is better than Charles

Chris Wilder received ten new faces in his place Sheffield United last transfer window as the Blades boss put together a squad that could challenge for instant promotion back to the Premier League.

He seems to have combined just that with a South Yorkshire outfit that is very popular Priority auto-promotion heading into some key games to come, an admirable feat given his side are still fresh from finishing bottom of the Premier League at a miserable 16 points.

Now he will want his side to get back into the league straight away and prove they belong in the elite division, with a potential January signing showing they really mean it.

Sheffield United for the former Premier League winner

According to a recent report by a Turkish publication Fanatic – as he reported Sports witness – promotion chasers have reignited their interest in former England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with talks now taking place between the former Liverpool midfielder’s agent and the Championship side.

Once connected with the experienced 31-year-old in the summer window, it now looks like a deal could be back on the table at some point this month, with his current employers, the Beskitas, also looking to get rid of him as his playing time has run out this season in Turkey.

Having previously lifted the Premier League title with the Reds, this could be seen as a blow to the bottom of the second tier in landing Oxlade-Chamberlain, who also has reported interest from French side Nantes away from Wilder’s men snooping around.

What Oxlade-Chamberlain could offer

Landing the former Champions League winner could signal United’s interest in signing the Southampton youngster Shea Charles is short-lived, with the Sheffield Star recently reporting that Charles is seen as a fresh addition in midfield for the Blades despite playing for Sheffield Wednesday on loan this season.

After all, the arrival of a player of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s caliber would be seen as a major upgrade in acquiring the services of the former Owls No.44 on loan, regardless of Charles’ breakthrough moment at Hillsborough.

Charles will no doubt go on to have a successful career in the game as he progresses one goal and four assists central to Danny Rohl’s men in league action this season, before revealing his loan spell has been cut short.

But Wilder may want the finished article here and now instead of snapping up a promising youngster, with Oxlade-Chamberlain’s versatility to play in a whole range of different positions also significantly bolstering his injury-depleted squad.

Crazy, Oxlade-Chamberlain lined up in ten different positions during his varied playing days and Wilder wanted to use him in his preferred central midfield role Ollie Arblaster aside for the foreseeable future.

But, apart from adding depth in a position where Tom Davies has struggled with fitness, Oxlade-Chamberlain could fill in anywhere at a moment’s notice and deliver a competent performance that will ease some of the selection headaches for the United boss.

One concern would be that of Oxlade-Chamberlain “incredible” days at Liverpool – as Jurgen Klopp once described him – are now well behind him, but he showed there was still life in his legs last season with Beskitas seen in the superb solo strike above.

He would give up the 2023/24 season four goals and one assist in addition to his name in league action, with his attacking prowess is also a big reason why Wilder may look to snap him up soon.

While Charles could be the flavor of the month in the second tier, United would undoubtedly show the rest of the Championship that they are serious about promotion if a deal goes through for the four-time FA Cup winner.