Claim made on Gus Hamer staying at Sheffield United as Anel Ahmedhodzic exit fear raised | OneFootball

FLW's Blades fan pundit has given his views on who he thinks the club will keep and sell following their play-off heartbreak

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Sheffield United's season came to a bitterly disappointing end at Wembley on Saturday afternoon, as they lost the Championship play-off final to Sunderland in added-time to be consigned to another campaign in the second-tier.

The Blades kept pace with Leeds United and Burnley throughout most of the season, but fell away at the vital moment over the final few months and so instead had to seek promotion through the play-offs.

They eased past Bristol City in the semi-finals, but a late Tommy Watson strike saw the Black Cats clinch a dream return to the Premier League last weekend.

United are surely set to lose some key men this summer as a result of that loss, but our Blades fan pundit is confident of the club keeping hold of some of their most important players, while he has forecast some surprise exits ahead of next season.

Blades fan pundit issues surprise Gus Hamer transfer verdict amid Anel Ahmedhodzic exit prediction

Dutch midfielder Gus Hamer signed for the Blades from Coventry City in 2023 for a reported fee of around £15 million. He has been one of their key men in the last two campaigns, and his impressive form in the past season saw him named as the Championship's Player of the Year last week.

Leeds reportedly saw an offer of around £13 million for his services rejected last summer, but could look to reignite their interest following their promotion and United's play-off failure. Everton have recently registered their interest in his services, with TEAMtalk reporting that he is on their shortlist ahead of the summer window.

Anel Ahmedhodzic has been another of Chris Wilder's most important players in their respective Premier League and Championship plights over the last two years, and he surpassed 100 appearances for the club in March while being one of the second-tier's best centre-backs across the campaign.

Both Hamer and Ahmedhodzic have been mooted to depart Bramall Lane this summer, but FLW's United fan pundit, Jimmy, of the Blades Ramble YouTube channel, believes that the latter is the most likely to be sold soon.

He also believes that the Dutchman is more likely to be retained than fellow midfield partner Vinicius Souza, while he does not foresee first-choice keeper Michael Cooper moving on after one season at the club.

"We have got clarity now. We know we are going to be a Championship club next season. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, we have got to pick ourselves up and go again," Jimmy told FLW.

"We have got to come to terms with what comes with that, which will be losing players, undoubtedly. I am fully expecting that Anel Ahmedhodzic goes. I think he is the one that stands out as definitely on the way out.

"He has got a year left on his deal, and, from the outside looking in, this isn’t a slight on him as it is his career, but it doesn’t appear as though he is interested in signing a new contract.

"I think it probably works for both parties now, that Anel moves on, even though he has been a very good player for us.

"I think the obvious ones that people will look to are Gus Hamer and Vini Souza. I think there is more chance that Souza leaves than Hamer.

"Hamer is an outstanding player on his day, but there are injury issues, form issues and fitness issues in terms of finishing a game and things like that, so I’m not sure Gus is a slam dunk to leave like many think he is.

"He’s also worth a lot of money to us, so I’m not sure people would pay the price that we may want to get him out of Sheffield United, even though he is a very, very good player.

"He has won the Championship Player of the Year for a reason. He is outstanding on his day, but I don’t think it is a done deal.

"I think Michael Cooper stays. I’ve heard the shouts that he might go, but I think, again, it will cost an awful lot of money to get him out of Sheffield United."

United will have to sell more than Ahmedhodzic - Wilder may look to sanction exits for younger players instead

United are set to be in line for a sizeable transfer windfall if Ahmedhodzic is moved on in the coming months, but they will probably have to sell more than just him and midfielder Souza this summer, with numerous players likely wanting to move on to further their own careers.

Instead of senior players like Hamer, Cooper or standout full-back Harrison Burrows being sold this summer, our Blades fan pundit Jimmy has predicted the club to allow younger, developing players, such as Sydie Peck and Ryan Oné, to leave amid potential transfer interest following their respective first-team breakthroughs.

He said: "I think the ones that are maybe more susceptible (to being sold), that haven’t really come up as part of the conversation at the moment, are some of our promising youth players.

"Sydie Peck has had an outstanding debut season, and there is interest in him, from what I understand. Also Ryan Oné, I think he may well be the subject of significant interest this summer.

"That may well mean that we can keep some first-team-ready players, if we sell those two prospects for a good price.

"Lots of upheaval is anticipated at Sheffield United, but I certainly would back Chris Wilder to continue this rebuild, which is nowhere near complete anyway, and we will go again stronger next season."

20-year-old Peck has been a real force in the middle of the park over the last campaign, and he started in all three of the Blades' play-off outings over the last month, so is sure to attract transfer attention this summer. Boss Wilder recently praised his performances as "outstanding" in the absence of fellow youngster Oliver Arblaster.

Scottish youth international Oné has not had as much of an impact on United's senior side as yet, but having already played 15 times for their first-team at just 18-years-old, he clearly has a bright future. The pacey, strong striker has previously been linked with a move to Liverpool, while both Monaco and Juventus are reportedly tracking his availability.

It is clear that the Blades are anticipating a busy summer of both incomings and outgoings, but while many supporters have been resigned to an exodus of their key men following play-off heartbreak, selling their developing talents may well be the way to retain a strong squad heading into a massively important 2025/26 campaign.