As Sheffield United gear up for their 2024/25 season in the Championship, fans can look forward to the return of the Steel City derby. However, the Blades face an uphill battle, starting the season at the bottom of the table with a -2 points deduction.

Both Sheffield clubs have been active in the transfer market, bringing in new talent to strengthen their squads. But how have their rivals fared? Here’s a look at some recent transfer activities:

Leeds United are gearing up for another attempt at Premier League promotion after falling short last season, losing to Southampton in the play-off final. This failure has made Leeds a target for other clubs looking to poach their key players. One such player is Georginio Rutter, for whom Brighton and Hove Albion have already had a £30 million bid rejected. According to Football Insider, Brighton are preparing a new offer for the 22-year-old, who scored eight goals and provided 16 assists in all competitions last season.

Stoke City are in the market for a new centre-back following an injury to Michael Rose. Manager Steven Schumacher confirmed that Rose will be sidelined for eight to ten weeks with an ankle injury. Speaking after Stoke’s pre-season match against Stockport County, Schumacher said, “Bringing in a centre-back is now high on the priority list. Michael’s ankle injury is more serious than we initially thought. He will see a specialist this week to determine the next steps, so we need to bolster our defense accordingly” .