Sheffield United facing Coventry City competition in race for Hull City star | OneFootball

Sheffield United are reportedly facing competition from Coventry City in their efforts to sign Hull City defender Charlie Hughes

Sheffield United are facing a fresh threat in their efforts to potentially sign Charlie Hughes following Anel Ahmedhodzic's departure to Feyenoord, with Championship rivals Coventry City also credited with an interest in the Hull City defender.

As first reported earlier on Tuesday afternoon by the Sheffield Star, Ruben Selles' side have lodged an enquiry for Hughes as they bid to bolster the squad with defensive reinforcements in the wake of Ahmedhodzic's £7 million switch to Dutch outfit Feyenoord.

A subsequent report from HullLive, however, has revealed that Coventry have also shown interest in the sought-after central defender, whose performances in his debut campaign with the Tigers have earned no shortage of admiration throughout the summer.

Hughes moved to Hull just last summer from League One side Wigan Athletic in a reported £3.5 million deal, with the Blades having considered an approach for the ex-England youth international. However, Hull won the race and Hughes would enjoy an impressive first year in East Yorkshire, racking up 27 appearances - many of which came under now-United head coach Ruben Selles - and winning the club's Young Player of the Season award.

Still aged just 21, it's little surprise that Hughes is garnering interest from the top-end of the Championship, and should United decide to amp up their efforts after reportedly being put off by the Tigers' valuation, they may need to beat off competition from Frank Lampard and co in order to land his services ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 campaign.

Sheffield United facing Coventry City competition in Hull City, Charlie Hughes transfer race

The aforementioned report from The Star detailed how, following initial contact over a potential deal, Sheffield United were "dissuaded" from progressing in their efforts owing to Hull's asking price for Hughes, which remains officially undisclosed at this moment in time.

It's said that Hughes' name has appeared on a list of transfer targets for the Blades, who are in the market for fresh defensive options after the recent exit of star defender Ahmedhodzic, having signed Nottingham Forest's Tyler Bindon on a season-long loan earlier this summer.

Coventry have also been credited with an interest, although HullLive's report describes how any admiring glances from the Sky Blues have come nothing close to meeting what will be required to convince the Tigers into seriously considering the prospect of selling Hughes.

That update added that, at least regarding Coventry's interest in Hughes, the "door is closed" as it stands, although it would also be no surprise to see last season's Championship play-off finalists return with a more serious offer for the 21-year-old starlet in the remaining weeks of the summer transfer window and the same can be said for the Blades, who have money to reinvest after selling Ahmedhodzic.

Hull reportedly do not want to sanction a sale for Hughes, although they are left "vulnerable" after being placed under a three-window transfer embargo by the EFL at the start of July.

Sheffield United may have Ruben Selles advantage over Coventry City in Hull City, Charlie Hughes transfer race

If Sheffield United take their interest in Hughes up a notch and return with an offer capable of forcing Hull into consideration, the fresh presence of Selles in the Bramall Lane dugout could just hand them a crucial advantage.

Selles, of course, managed Hughes during his short time at the MKM Stadium, in which he kept Hull in the Championship before being contentiously relieved of his duties in a shock decision by divisive chairman Acun Ilicali.

Hughes, it would appear, thoroughly enjoyed working under the Spaniard and you do have to wonder how much he would relish the opportunity to do so again, this time for a side with serious ambitions of returning to the Premier League after agonisingly losing out in last term's play-off final to Sunderland at Wembley.

At the time when Selles' position at Hull was up in the air prior to his sacking, the ex-Wigan defender discussed how "great" he had been and the way in which the squad were behind him.

Hughes is quoted as saying: "Stats don't lie. I've seen a few stats since he's come in, and what he's done ... I don't think there's any debate in that. And I've seen it for myself since he’s come in.

"He's been great, and I mean the lads have a great relationship with him.

"I've heard rumours, but listen, all I'll say is that me and the lads have a great relationship with the manager. Since he's come in, the lads are grateful for what he's done for us.