”What a mess” - Sheffield United fans fume over new transfer update | OneFootball

All is not well among the Blades fanbase, and their latest transfer update has stirred up ill-feeling once more

Sheffield United fans are looking for some positive signs this week after a horrific start to the 2025-26 Championship season - but the latest transfer update coming out of Bramall Lane has only brought more frustration.

The mood was much different earlier this year in January after COH Sports' takeover of the club, with several new players brought in and the best part of £10 million splashed out on Leicester City striker Tom Cannon, showing the new American ownership of the Blades meant business.

Since their play-off final defeat to Sunderland in May though, significant changes have happened - Chris Wilder left the club as manager for a second time, Ruben Selles was his replacement after being sacked harshly by Hull City, but crucially, not a single 'first-team player' has arrived on a permanent basis yet this summer.

FLW exclusively reported back in July that Selles was set to have a restricted transfer budget based on frees and loans, and that has so far come to fruition, with the three senior additions to the squad - Djibril Soumaré, Louie Barry and Tyler Bindon - all being loanees.

Sheffield United fans react to Jefferson Caceres transfer development

The only two permanent arrivals have been youngsters from Bulgarian clubs, with winger Ehije Ukaki and right-back Mihail Polendakov joining from Botev Plovdiv and Septemvri Sofia respectively - and that was in-line with some of the club's January additions too, with the AI-driven data model being brought into use at Bramall Lane when it came to recruitment.

United brought in Christian Nwachukwu from Ukaki's club Botev Plovdiv earlier this year, and joining him at the same time was another attacker - Peruvian Jefferson Caceres from Melgar.

At 22 (and soon to be 23 later in August), Caceres was a bit more proven than fellow arrival Nwachukwu, but he didn't see any game-time last season whatsoever after his arrival in South Yorkshire, with his only appearance in a matchday squad coming against Stoke City in April.

Crucially for Sheffield United's transfer business for the rest of the summer, Caceres - as well as their three Bulgarian-based arrivals since the start of 2025 - take up all of the club's ESC slots, and that is preventing United from adding to their squad from certain foreign leagues.

Malmo centre-back Nils Zatterstrom is on the club's radar as a potential Anel Ahmedhodzic replacement, but with uncertainty surrounding his work permit eligibility, United are looking to move the aforementioned Caceres to Scottish side Dunfermline Athletic - owned by one of their recruitment team James Bord - as per the Sheffield Star, in order to free up a space in their ESC slots.

This development seemingly has not gone down well with much of the United fanbase, with one describing the situation via X as a "mess".

Another Blades fan believes that the lesser-spotted Caceres may go down as one of the club's strangest transfer dealings of all time.

Another supporter has described United as a "shambles" at this current moment in time, and is far from convinced that COH Sports are up to the job as owners since they arrived in late 2024.

Continuing the theme of frustrated Sheffield United fans, another called the situation at the club right now a "joke", with Selles' options in his defensive unit labelled a "mess".

And in perhaps a surprise twist, another supporter is of the belief that COH Sports already need to depart the club on the basis of this summer's actions, which has seen a real lack of transfer activity and progress.

Sheffield United fans have a right to be frustrated at COH Sports' lack of transfer clarity

When Helmy Eltoukhy and Steven Rosen arrived at United just before Christmas 2024, it was seen as the dawning of a new, exciting era at Bramall Lane - it is fast turning into a nightmare though.

The January additions of the likes of Cannon, Hamza Choudhury and Ben Brereton Diaz were ambitious and a sign of a push for Premier League promotion, but after that dream came crashing down at Wembley, there has been little to cheer about.

COH Sports seem reluctant to spend money to strengthen Selles' squad, and he's already under pressure from some fans after the hammering at the hands of Bristol City this past weekend - it's clear to see that in defence especially, Sheffield United aren't equipped well enough right now.

Supporters were bound to start to get frustrated one way or another, and the latest issue with no ESC transfer slots available and potentially moving Caceres - a young South American player who moved halfway across the world to join United in January - on to the Scottish second tier just half a year on, has struck a real nerve with many, and it's no real surprise.