Sheffield United welcome two familiar faces ahead of major rebuild

Sheffield United have officially added a new head of recruitment ahead of one of the most important summer transfer windows in the club’s history.

The Blades have appointed Mike Allen as the new head of recruitment , while Jamie Hoyland will be the new chief scout for the first team.

As stated by the club’s official website: the appointment of Allen will lead to a much more data-driven recruitment plan than the team have become accustomed to in recent times under former head of reruitment Paul Mitchell.

Both men have close ties with the football club and Chris Wilder himself. Allen was formerly head of data analysis for Sheffield United for 16 years, before departing in 2021. He was also in a brought into a role by Wilder for Middlesbrough and Watford, and now he’s joined back up with him at the Blades once more.

Meanwhile, Hoyland, who once had a scouting role for the academy, has rejoined the football club, who he once played for, after leaving for Everton last year to become their lead scout.

Chris Wilder on Sheffield United’s new recruitment team

Speaking to the official club website, the Sheffield United chief expressed his delight for acquiring two new faces for the recruitment team.

“This is tremendous news for the club as we welcome two individuals who will play a major role in one of the most important recruitment periods this club has seen in the past decade,” he exclaimed.

“Boosting the recruitment department, this was something which everyone from board level down to management agreed was necessary, and these two individuals won’t be the last ones we appoint to a new look team.

“I’ve worked successfully with Mike before, he’s no stranger to the club, and Jamie is someone who will need no introduction to Blades fans either from his time as a player and his work with the academy.”

Taking a look at Mike Allen’s recent recruitment

During Mike Allen’s final full season at Sheffield United he played a part in identifying the likes of: Rhian Brewster, Aaron Ramsdale, Max Lowe, Jayden Bogle, Oliver Burke, Wes Foderingham and Ethan Ampadu. The Blades would spend circa £45 million on transfer fees during that season.

In his only summer window with Boro, Allen played a part in helping the club identify and recruit a plethora of loans, permanent and free signings which saw: Marcus Forss, Matt Clarke, Matthew Hoppe, Dan Barlaser, Darragh Lenihan, Cameron Archer, and Alex Mowatt among others join Middlesbrough.

This summer window for Sheffield United could look similar to the one Boro had in 2022 where a mixture of permanents, loans and frees will be utilised to bring in the perfect blend of experience and quality squad players as well as some exciting young Premier League loans.

Perhaps Allen’s former links with Middlesbrough could see Paddy McNair join the Blades this summer. The 29-year-old is a free agent this summer and is a player Chris Wilder loves. Also, he has been rumoured to be joining United in the past.