Sheffield United were linked with a string of strikers – including the £5 million Derby County recruit, Martyn Waghorn.
David McGoldrick’s name will have topped few Sheffield United fans’ summer wishlists – as many Blades would surely now admit.
But they can at least do so with a smile, after McGoldrick scored his fifth goal of the season – and fourth match-winner – against Hull City on Saturday, to hoist Chris Wilder’s side into first place.
Already, the 30-year-old has as many combined goals and assists (six) as Clayton Donaldson – the striker he replaced at Bramall Lane – managed in close to a full campaign.
And it is not just his predecessor that McGoldrick is putting to shame – see too, those he was signed in place of.
Be they genuine targets or not, Lee Gregory (Millwall), David Nugent (Derby County) and Jonathan Walters (Ipswich Town) were each mentioned in connection with Sheffield United at one point or another prior to McGoldrick’s arrival – while Martyn Waghorn (also Derby) is a striker known to have been coveted by Blades boss Wilder.
Yet you would need to add together each of their goal tallies to generate a figure (six) higher than what the former Ipswich player has produced alone in 19 fewer appearances.
Sam Gallagher – another player said to have been coveted at Bramall Lane – is struggling to make the Southampton bench.
And while Sheffield United fans may no longer care about the progress of those they failed to sign, you can’t help but wonder if the players themselves are wondering what might have been.
Was McGoldrick in fact the best of the bunch?
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