Sheffield United should turn to AFC Bournemouth in wake of Anel Ahmedhodzic news | OneFootball

Sheffield United should make a move to sign AFC Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham after the departure of Anel Ahmedhodzic to Feyenoord.

The 2025/26 Championship season is now more or less upon us, but Sheffield United’s transfer business is far from concluded, with the Blades now searching for a centre-back after the departure of Anel Ahmedhodzic.

The 26-year-old Malmo-born Bosnia & Herzegovina international defender has finally completed a move away from South Yorkshire, with it now confirmed that he has joined Dutch giants Feyenoord for a fee of around £7 million.

Ahmedhodzic made over 100 appearances for the Blades across three seasons, and has established himself as one of the best defenders in the EFL, so his departure - after Sheffield United failed to gain promotion last season - is not much of a shock.

However, as former Reading and Hull City boss Ruben Selles begins the task of delivering a promotion challenge to Bramall Lane this season, United must now act swiftly in identifying and signing a replacement for Ahmedhodzic at the back.

A youngster from Ahmedhodzic's former club Malmö - Nils Zatterstrom - is reportedly on the club's radar, as per Mike McGrath, but the man that Sheffield United should be lining up as the Bosnian's replacement is AFC Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham, who would be an ideal loan or permanent signing for the club for the 2025-26 season.

Signing Chris Mepham would make a lot of sense for Sheffield United

The 27-year-old Harrow-born Wales international spent last season out on loan at Sunderland, and came on early for the injured Luke O’Nien as the Black Cats pulled off a dramatic turnaround to defeat Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium in late-May.

That was the second time that Mepham had gained promotion to the Premier League, having made 22 appearances for Bournemouth as the Cherries finished second in the 2021/22 Championship campaign.

Developed as a ball-playing defender at Brentford, Mepham has retained those attributes, whilst also now becoming an EFL centre-back of immense nous and experience, capable of playing a range of different styles.

With Selles seemingly coming in as something of a pragmatist at Bramall Lane, that would surely suit the profile of Mepham, who can get on the front foot in games that United attack, but also soak up pressure in an old-school manner when their backs are against the wall.

Coupling his stylistic fit to the club with his promotion-winning experience and pedigree makes it a very simple and cost-effective choice for Sheffield United to surely pursue a move for him this summer, as was the case with Sunderland last year.

And with Mepham out of contract next summer at Bournemouth, they will surely be opening to selling the centre-half for the right price, as he seemingly has no future under Andoni Iraola at the Vitality Stadium.

Chris Mepham would provide experience to Sheffield United if Ruben Selles goes for him

Ahmedhodzic has become the second major sale of the summer transfer window for Sheffield United, with Vinicius Souza having been sold on to Wolfsburg earlier on in the market.

There has been a lot of interest in Gustavo Hamer, with PSV Eindhoven having been linked, whilst West Ham United have been rumoured to want to sign Michael Cooper - both of those remain at Bramall Lane though for the time being, in what is a boost for Selles.

Plenty of players have left at the end of their contracts from last season, such as Rhian Brewster, who has joined Derby County, whilst loanees Rob Holding, Alfie Gilchrist, Harry Souttar, Harry Clarke, Hamza Choudhury, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Ben Brereton Diaz have all exited too.

The issues especially come in defence with Holding, Gilchrist, Souttar, Clarke and now Ahmedhodzic leaving a few holes to rapidly fill at Bramall Lane.

Tyler Bindon has arrived on loan from Nottingham Forest, but only Jack Robinson joins him as a senior first-team centre-back in their squad, just days away from the season beginning.

Mepham not only represents a very simple signing to boost the floor of their squad, but would surely also be quite a quick and easy deal to do, and time is of the essence for Sheffield United as their first few Championship matches approach.