Exclusive: Sheffield United handed early transfer blow as Ruben Selles budget details emerge | OneFootball

Sheffield United are set to operate on a restricted budget in this summer's transfer window, Football League World has learned

Sheffield United have been handed an early blow in their plans to undertake a strong summer window and plot a successful promotion charge in the 2025/26 Championship campaign after losing out in the play-off final to Sunderland as a restricted transfer budget beckons, sources have exclusively revealed to Football League World.

The Blades are currently undergoing a period of transition ahead of COH Sports' first full season in charge of the club after completing their takeover last December, with Steve Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy already deciding to part ways with popular boss Chris Wilder in favour of Ruben Selles following his contentious dismissal from Championship rivals Hull City.

Wilder's own sacking divided opinion in the red-and-white quarters of the Steel City, having led United to a play-off final after finishing the regular season on 90 points.

The Blades, of course, actually won 92 points as they were struck with a two-point deduction before a ball was kicked, and their haul would have been enough to earn automatic promotion in most seasons, though Leeds United and Burnley's mightily-strong form all year long forced them to settle for a third-placed finish before they fell to an agonising, last-grasp 2-1 defeat at the hands of Sunderland in May's second-tier play-off final at Wembley.

However, the club's ambitions of going one better and returning to the Premier League at the second attempt next season have been dealt an early, and potentially significant blow, with a tricky and restricted summer transfer window awaiting new head coach Selles.

Sheffield United set to operate on a restricted budget in this summer's transfer window

Sources close to FLW have revealed that Sheffield United will be working on a restricted budget throughout this summer's transfer window, despite entering the second year of the Premier League's lucrative three-year mandated parachute payments package to relegated sides.

It's understood that the Blades are looking into loan and free-agent options in a bid to bolster Selles' squad, having heavily utilised both markets last season.

The South Yorkshire outfit have made two signings so far this summer, with highly-rated young Nottingham Forest defender Tyler Bindon joining on loan following an impressive stay with Reading in League One and 20-year-old Nigerian winger Ehije Ukaki arriving from Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv in yet another data-driven deal by Rosen and Eltouhky.

United made a total of seven loan signings last time out by striking temporary deals for Ben Brereton-Diaz, Hamza Choudhury, Harry Clarke, Alfie Gilchrist, Rob Holding, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Harry Souttar, while Tyrese Campbell, Callum O'Hare, Sam McCallum and Jamie Shackleton all arrived on free transfers.

However, those arrivals were supplemented by moves for the likes of Harrison Burrows and Michael Cooper in the summer before Tom Cannon's £10 million January switch from Leicester City.

It now appears as though cost-effective deals will form the basis of the Blades' summer recruitment strategy, as they prepare to challenge for automatic promotion once again next time out.

Sheffield United could lose prized assets amid restricted transfer budget revelation

Although FLW has not yet been informed of whether Sheffield United will have to undertake asset-stripping exercises of the playing squad in a bid to strengthen the transfer budget, such practices are often commonplace in these situations, and it's a real worry that may begin to set itself upon supporters.

The sale of Brazilian midfielder Vini Souza to Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg for a €15 million (£12.8 million) fee has already been sanctioned, but the Blades may only wonder who is next if the club are looking to have a more competitive budget as the window toils on.

Gus Hamer, who won the EFL Championship's Player of the Year Award and has established himself as a star performer during his two years at Bramall Lane, is reportedly hoping to seal a Premier League move in the coming weeks and months and will command a handsome transfer fee, while other stars like Anel Ahmedhodzic and two of last summer's most impressive acquisitions in Burrows and Cooper should also not be short of top-flight interest.

Retaining some of those players, of course, could be viewed as a statement of intent for the Blades, who will not want to be backed into a corner and forced into selling assets, although such an outcome may be necessitated if they are to have a budget capable of competing with other potential promotion rivals such as Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Southampton and big-spending Birmingham City.