Sheffield United are interested in Jarrod Bowen but will wait until the summer to pursue him, suggests journalist James Shield.
What’s the word?
Bowen has been an exceptionally good player to watch over the last 18 months, racking up 22 goals last term and failing to slow down throughout 2019/20.
The Hull City winger has amassed 16 goals while proving to be a tricky customer with his dribbling, beating a man 1.8 times per game on average in the Championship.
He’s been linked with a number of clubs including both Bournemouth and Newcastle, while Leeds were ruled out of the race earlier this month because of his hefty price tag.
That’s something that’s also put off the Blades who are keen on adding him to their ranks but only in the summer.
Speaking in a Q&A on The Star, Shield had the following to say:
“United are admirers of Bowen and have been for some time. So are a lot of other Premier League clubs. Hull City have made it clear he won’t be allowed to leave East Yorkshire for anything less than £20m during this window so that rules United out of the equation I’m afraid. They could, of course, choose to revisit the situation in the summer if Bowen is still available. But City seem pretty confident of keeping him this month.”
Wouldn’t suit the system
As good as Bowen has been in the second-tier, contributing to 24 goals in just 27 outings, he wouldn’t suit Sheffield United’s system unless Chris Wilder favours a change to his tried and tested methods.
The Blades play with a three-man backline and two wing-backs which makes fitting an out and out winger like Bowen into the team a difficult challenge to overcome.
That being said, he has played through the middle as a central striker on five occasions this season and scored three times.
If United made a move in the summer and he arrived at Bramall Lane that might be where his future lies but it would restrict some of his major attributes.
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In fact, the 23-year-old manages more shots per game when he plays on the right-hand side, 3.4, than he does through the middle, 2.6. Not only that, but he also accumulates fewer successful dribbles on average each outing, according to WhoScored.
When playing as a striker this term he’s mustered just 1.2 per match compared to 2 when on the right. The Blades must think carefully about any potential pursuit.
In other news, Sheffield United are in the market for a World Cup finalist this month…