Sheffield United must sign this outstanding defender this summer – Opinion

Sheffield United have struggled to find a consistent left-back all season due to injuries. The team’s more natural left-backs, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Max Lowe, missed the most of the season.

This saw centre-back Auston Trusty deployed in that position and versatile midfielder Ben Osborn. Additionally, loanee Yasser Larouci hasn’t lifted any trees with his performances and looks completely out of his depth in the Premier League.

The Blades are unlikely to keep hold of Max Lowe in the summer and Norrington-Davies’ future is in doubt after an unfortunate succession of major injuries which saw him make seven appearances this term after returning from a 14 months layoff.

It is imperative that Sheffield United secure a form left-back or left-back in the upcoming summer transfer window. Preferably one you know you can rely on for at least 75% of the campaign.

Some of the best recruitment during Chris Wilder’s first tenure saw low-value signings from League One and the Championship. And with a huge rebuild on their hands, I wouldn’t be shocked to see some of the rebuild come this route again.

For me, the club should do everything in their power to secure the signature of 22-year-old Harrison Burrows this summer.

I understand Burrows is in the final year of his current deal at Peterborough United, but the club have the option to extend it by a further year. Either way, Burrows would be available at a very low price.

The young left-back has played at least 37 times in each of his last three league campaigns. During that time, he collected 24 assists while adding 13 goals to his name.

He is also a player who has tasted Championship football before, having been a standout performer aged just 19 in Peterborough’s relegation season in 2021/22.

Harrison Burrows has been a standout player at left-back for Peterborough United since breaking into the first team.

His numbers are simply insane, be it overall passes, creative passes or goals and assists, he ranks in the top percentile in Ligue 1 in almost every category.

In terms of p90 assists, Burrows is in the 97th percentile for full-backs in League One. He also ranks in the 96th percentile for key passes per game, 94th for crosses per game and 99th for progressive passes per game.

Additionally, he ranks 84th in opponents’ penalty area touches, 85th in shots taken p90 and 81st in goals per game from a defender.

The Blades haven’t had a reliable left-back since probably the 2019/20 version of Enda Stevens. Now, for a team that relies heavily on fullbacks for their system, it’s shocking that they haven’t had a player in that position they can lean on for so long. This is both from the point of view of durability and from the point of view of real creative force.

Throughout Burrows’ young career, he has shown that he can be that player. He would also fit into this new young team dynamic. And, he is a natural leader, something the Blades have sorely lacked at the back this season.