Exclusive: Double Sheffield United transfer exit blamed for early Ruben Selles struggles | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has commented on Ruben Selles’ damning comments over Sheffield United’s summer transfer window activity.

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has admitted the failure to replace Ahmed Ahmedhodzic and Vini Souza during the summer transfer window has contributed to their slow start to the season under Ruben Selles.

The Blades have suffered back-to-back defeats in their opening two encounters under the former Hull City boss, losing heavily at home to Bristol City on the opening weekend of the Championship before exiting the Carabao Cup at the hands of Birmingham City.

Selles recently gave a damning insight into his thoughts on the summer transfer window, revealing it has “not been good enough”.

Sheffield United are crying out for reinforcements as they travel to South Wales this weekend to take on Swansea City, but none are expected to walk through the building before Saturday afternoon.

After losing the likes of Ahmedhodzic, Souza, Kieffer Moore, and Rhian Brewster to name a few, the squad is very light on the ground, with concerns being raised that this factor could continue Sheffield United’s poor start to 2025-26.

With this news in mind, Lee Hendrie has spoken to FLW about Sheffield United’s current situation this summer.

Lee Hendrie slams Sheffield United transfer business for poor league start

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, ex-Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie believes that the Blades’ failure to replace the outgoings of Ahmed Ahmedhodzic and Vini Souza has been a contributing factor to their slow start to the new league season.

Hendrie said: “Sheffield United haven’t made the greatest start to the season. Ruben Selles wants to bring more signings in with three to five expected.

“Watching them in their first game of the season, in the first half they definitely showed signs of having that attacking threat and looked really dangerous, but it was the turnovers that Bristol City caught them out on in the counter-attack and were clinical, but Sheffield United defensively looked really vulnerable.

“Losing Ahmedhodzic and Vini Souza, who are such big players, integral to the way they played and really solid players that they have to replace, they haven’t done that and hence, he wants three to five signings.

“I think they need it, based off what I’ve seen, particularly in midfield and defence.

“I’m not concerned for them. It’s the start of the season and I think you start getting concerned when you get to the 10-game mark in the league, but yes, they do need to start getting results and definitely do need signings. It’s just bringing the right personnel in for the football club.”

Ruben Selles under early Sheffield United pressure

Ruben Selles’ tenure at Sheffield United couldn’t have got off to a much worse start.

After conceding four of Bristol City’s five shots on target, the game ended with Selles berating his players on the pitch, a visible message to their home crowd that the new boss didn’t find the performance acceptable.

Things didn’t get any better in the Carabao Cup though, crashing out of the competition in the first round against Birmingham City, despite fielding a relatively strong XI.

With a lot of people connected to the Steel City originally believing that the team could bounce back at the second attempt to the big time, worry is now etched onto faces, with the current squad far too open at the back to challenge towards the top end of the table.

The slide needs to be arrested quickly, and that will only come up with new additions, with the club needing to now act swiftly to stop this poor start turning into something more substantial.