Sheffield United 'eye' loan deal for Coventry City's ex-Barnsley and Leeds United defender Liam Kitching
Sheffield United have been credited with interest in a former Barnsley and Leeds United defender
Sheffield United are reportedly eyeing an ambitious move to sign Liam Kitching on loan from Coventry City.
A product of Leeds United’s academy, Kitching has been on the books at Coventry since September 2023. He was signed from Barnsley, for whom he had established himself as a key figure.
The defender played a key role in Coventry’s Championship title-winning campaign last term, but has been on the bench for the first two games of their Premier League campaign.
Sheffield United linked with ex-Barnsley star
Sheffield United want to strengthen before the summer transfer window closes at 11pm tomorrow (September 1) and according to Football League World, Kitching is on their shortlist.
A loan deal is supposedly being eyed by the Blades, who would be landing a centre-back with an impressive amount of Championship experience.
Although the lure of Premier League football is often strong, Kitching may recognise opportunities could be limited for him in Frank Lampard’s squad this term.
Liam Kitching’s career path
Kitching impressed at various youth levels for Leeds but was allowed to depart on a permanent basis in 2019 after two loan spells at Harrogate Town.
He linked up with Forest Green Rovers, doing enough to catch the eye of Barnsley and persuade the Reds to recruit him in 2021.
The centre-back was part of the Reds squad that suffered relegation from the Championship in 2022 and the one that reached the League One play-off final a year later.
In May 2023, discussing his development from an academy player at Leeds to a first-team star at Barnsley, Kitching said: “It's always hard leaving your boyhood club (Leeds United) and having to do it the hard way down the lower leagues. I feel like I am definitely finding my feet now under Michael Duff.”