Ruben Selles Issues Warning to Sheffield United Board Over Transfer Business Ahead of Birmingham City Cup Tie | OneFootball

Sheffield United travel to the West Midlands in midweek to take on Birmingham City in the first round of the EFL Cup.

Birmingham head coach Chris Davies is expected to rotate his side, according to Birmingham World, but even a changed starting eleven should carry plenty of quality. Several summer signings could make competitive debuts, including former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper James Beadle, while ex-Blades promotion-winner Tommy Doyle, surprisingly benched in Friday’s opener, could feature from the start.

Davies’ side made an immediate impression with their confident, aggressive pressing in the 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town, and that’s something the Blades will be wary of heading to St Andrews on Wednesday.

Sheffield United Have Been “Actively Working” to Fix Defensive Transitions After Bristol City Defeat

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Anis Mehmeti of Bristol City scores his team’s third goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Bristol City at Bramall Lane on August 09, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

For Ruben Selles, the 4-1 defeat to Bristol City was a nightmare opening day in front of a packed out Bramall Lane. Defensive lapses from Rhys Norrington-Davies and a lack of bite in midfield undermined a promising first-half performance.

“I think after reviewing the game and speaking with the boys we all agreed it was a game that hurt us,” Selles admitted to SUTV. “It was more about transitions; their counter-attacks and our shape when we lost the ball. That was the main issue. We’ve been actively working to correct those problems so it doesn’t happen again.”

With only two days’ rest before Saturday’s Championship trip to Swansea, Selles confirmed he will make changes but not wholesale ones.

“I will make changes, and I will keep others in the line-up,” he explained. “There are players who have been working hard and deserve their opportunity. Djibril [Soumare] will have minutes.”

Soumare, signed from Braga on a season-long loan, is expected to be pivotal this season in shielding the defence and progressing play through midfield with his intelligence and powerful athleticism commanding the middle of the park.

The Blades Have Gaping Holes At the Back; Reinforcements Could Be Close

United’s defensive depth is a huge concern. With just two senior centre-backs and one relatively inexperienced right-back, options are limited. Supporters have voiced frustration at the lack of reinforcements, with some directing criticism at the club’s ownership.

Selles didn’t hide from the issue but refused to use it as an excuse: “I wish I had the players, but I’m not going to make it a thing,” he said. “We still had a good enough team to get a result last Saturday. Hopefully the active things the club is doing to bring players in will come through. maybe tomorrow, maybe for the weekend. But I always work with the assumption that this is what it is, and I need to get the best from what I have.”

He also issued a clear warning to the board over player sales: “I will be very disappointed if someone goes out before someone comes in. We can’t allow that to happen anymore.”

When it comes to recruitment balance, experience is top of his wish list:

“Absolutely it’s not at the back of my mind, it’s one of the requests [to the board]. You need a mix with players experienced in the division to give a platform for younger prospects to develop.”

The Birmingham City cup clash provides Selles with a chance to get some potentially key players such as Djibril Soumare up to speed with the rest of the squad. And whilst he may improve the defensive side of the midfield, the back line behind him is still extremely light. But, the club are actively looking to change this.

According to Alan Nixon, United are looking to sell Jefferson Caceres to Scottish side Dunfermline Athletic. This would free up an ESC slot for the club to use, and it’s increasingly likely this would be applied to promising Malmo centre-back Nils Zatterstrom, with Sheffield United and Malmo currently locked into negotiations regarding the 20-year-old.