'Potentially': Crystal Palace loanne hints at permanent Sheffield United transfer after Oliver Glasner fallout

Crystal Palace defender Rob Holding is already eyeing up a potential permanent move to Sheffield United this summer as he gets stuck into his short loan spell at Bramall Lane.

The 29-year-old joined the Championship outfit on Deadline Day earlier this month and has played twice for Sheffield United so far, in second tier wins over Portsmouth and Luton Town. That's already double the number of appearances that he has been afforded at Selhurst Park since joining the Eagles for £4 million from Arsenal in 2023, a move that has flopped.

Holding had been exiled from the Crystal Palace first team following a disagreement with Oliver Glasner and may not be all that keen on returning to south London. Blades manager Chris Wilder had already hinted that his loan signings this year could be made permanent come the end of the campaign.

Rob Holding open to Sheffield United transfer

Speaking about his start to life in Sheffield, Holding told The Star: “I was in a bit of a weird place in my career and I thought I just needed a team to take a chance on me. I know my abilities and what I can bring to a team, and to be fair to Sheffield United they took a chance because I've not played for so long. If I can repay that, then all the better and that's what I'm going to try and do.”

When asked about making the switch permanent, Holding added: “Potentially. It's going to be a discussion in the summer and we can see what happens. But it's something I'm sort of enjoying the moment right now and enjoying this journey with the team. And helping whenever I can.”

The defender's only Crystal Palace outing came in a Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester United in September 2023. Holding had previously made 162 appearances for Arsenal over seven years, winning the FA Cup twice.

The former Bolton Wanderers man has racked up 98 Premier League appearances over his time and, with the Blades sitting second in the Championship, could be eyeing up more with the side next term.

Former Arsenal man frozen out by Oliver Glasner

Speaking about the fall-out with the player in October, Glasner said: "Rob is training individually at the moment. We will talk together – he knows the reason. But it is something that stays between Rob and me. Nothing public."

When signing Holding from Crystal Palace on loan, Sheffield United boss Wilder outlined his plans for the player. He said: "We've been light in the central defensive area ever since Harry Souttar's injury, so we're delighted to add Rob, a player who has played the game at the highest level for a number of years.

"It is the last remaining piece of the jigsaw and whilst we have had to wait until deadline day to get this one boxed off, I think our patience has been justified by getting Rob over the line.

"He's played in some huge games during his time with Arsenal, so he'll relish the situation he's walking into. He'll compete with the likes of Anel, Jack and others, and joins a squad which is looking far healthier than the one we had at the start of the window, as we look to attack the remaining part of the season."

In other news, Chelsea ‘want’ to sign this Crystal Palace academy star who has supposedly rejected a Selhurst Park contract extension.