What Ruben Selles has said on Gus Hamer's situation at Sheffield United | OneFootball

The new Sheffield United manager Ruben Selles has admitted that he cannot control the transfer position of sought-after midfielder Gustavo Hamer.

The new Sheffield United manager Ruben Selles has admitted that he "cannot control" the situation regarding in-demand midfielder Gustavo Hamer, who has been a long-time Leeds United target.

Sheffield United have been consigned to another season of Championship football following their play-off defeat to Sunderland while Leeds were promoted back to the Premier League after an absence of two years, and given that Leeds tested the waters over signing Hamer in the summer of 2024, there has been an expectation that they would go back in for the 29-year-old Dutchman this year as they seek to strengthen ahead of the new season.

Hamer has "almost certainly" fallen down the list of priorities for Leeds this summer

The Yorkshire Post reported that the new Blades manager Ruben Selles has admitted that he "cannot control" speculation over Hamer's future, but the Post did also report that Hamer has almost certainly fallen down the list of priorities at Leeds when it comes to signing a number 10 this summer.

“He’s a Sheffield United player and I want him to be a Sheffield United player when the market closes," Selles told the Yorkshire Post.

"Obviously I cannot control what happens in the future because the market is so fluid and dynamic, but my intention is to keep him as one of our key players."

Hamer scored 10 goals in all competitions for Sheffield United last season, and also contributed eight assists. There is no doubting his importance to the team.

Leeds have had an interest in Hamer for a considerable time

Leeds made a bid believed to be around £13 million for Hamer in August 2024 which was rejected by Sheffield United, with then-manager Chris Wilder describing their offer for the player as "a million miles off" the Blades' valuation for him.

The atmosphere between the two clubs was already a little fractious at the time because Leeds had already persuaded Jayden Bogle to make a £5 million move from Bramall Lane to Elland Road earlier that summer.

Bogle had an outstanding season for Leeds on their right-hand side, making 44 appearances for them and ending the season in the Championship Team of the Season.

Hamer was the Championship Player of the Year for 2024-25, and given that both players also featured in the Championship Team of the Season as well, it's not surprising that Selles would want to keep hold of him for the new season. It remains to be seen whether Leeds will return with another bid for Hamer this summer.

Leeds' only two confirmed signings so far this summer have been striker Lukas Nmecha and Jaka Bijol, a striker and a central defender respectively, while their opening bid for Rodrigo Muniz has been rejected by Fulham.

But Muniz is a striker as well, which leaves room for Leeds to still consider a creative midfield playmaker who they have had an interest in for a long time.