Two years after signing Caolan Lavery, Sheffield United are looking to move on.
Sheffield United are admitting defeat in their hopes Caolan Lavery can play a first team role for the club.
BBC Sport reported last week that Lavery has been transfer listed, two years after making a controversial switch from Sheffield Wednesday.
Lavery rejected a contract extension in 2016 at the Owls and forced through a switch to Sheffield United.
The Star reported at the time how United agreed a fee with Wednesday after facing having to pay compensation via a tribunal as he was under 24.
Two years on his spell is coming to an abrupt end.
Lavery came through Wednesday’s academy but did not feel he was going to get the first team opportunities he wanted.
Yet the 39 games he did play for the Owls are more than he managed for United, 36 in total.
He featured regularly for them in League One, scoring five goals and providing eight assists, but struggled last season amid their return to the Championship after picking up an early injury.
Lavery was sent on loan to Rotherham, where he struggled for goals, scoring just twice.
Now the Blades are ruthlessly moving on, and it is not because Lavery is a terrible player, it is just he is not good enough for the level they are now aspiring to – or if he is, United don’t have the time or willingness to help him get up to speed.
United flirted with a promotion challenge last season and if they want to crack the play-offs, they need better quality.
It is a sign of their ambition they are willing to cast off a talent like Lavery, who has shown promise, and are not willing to wait.
They must balance the books and if they can get some money for the Northern Irishman to put towards reinforcements then it is a decision they have to make, and for the player too, it is best he moves on so he can play regular football.
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