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Opinion

Chris Wilder has found the perfect Kieffer Moore successor at Sheffield United, he scored 12 goals last season

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A new month offers new life to Sheffield United, and after their Championship play-off final heartbreak in May, full focus now turns onto next season.

Chris Wilder will be trying his best to forget Tommy Watson’s 95th minute winner for Sunderland at Wembley just under two weeks ago and he now must make the changes that he needs to get the Blades back into the Premier League.

With Gustavo Hamer linked with a Sheffield United exit, creativity and goals are going to need to be found elsewhere and it is imperative that the South Yorkshire outfit can find a striker capable of scoring at least 15 goals in a season.

Tom Cannon’s struggles following his move from Leicester City will be a huge concern for Wilder, and with Kieffer Moore also finding it tough in front of goal, it may come as no surprise to see the Blades already interested in a new striker.

Sheffield United show interest in Emil Riis

Emil Riis is set to leave Preston North End this summer as he looks for a new challenge following a disappointing campaign for the Lilywhites, and the soon-to-be free agent is highly sought after.

Preston North End's Emil Riis Jakobsen in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End FC and Plymouth Argyle FC
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images

As per a report from Anthony Joseph, there are a number of Championship sides interested in the Dane including Coventry City and Sheffield United.

Riis scored 12 goals for Preston last season as they avoided relegation on the final day of the campaign, but he wants a move to a club with Premier League ambitions, and Paul Heckingbottom’s side are not able to offer that at this time.

At 26, there is still plenty of time left in his career to make that step up to the top flight, and he is willing to do that through promotion.

Emil Riis could be the perfect replacement for Kieffer Moore

After finding the back of the net just five times in 27 appearances in the Championship in 2024/25, Wilder may feel as though he needs to find a replacement for Moore as Cannon and Tyrese Campbell look for some of the pressure to be eased off their shoulders.

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Bristol City struggled to deal with Moore’s physicality in the play-offs, and Riis offers a similar presence to the Truro-born striker but he also provides more of a threat in front of goal compared to the 32-year-old.

This is a big summer for Sheffield United and with the Championship set to be an open contest in 2025/26, they know they cannot afford to be left behind by their rivals and beating Coventry to the signature of Riis is crucial.