The double decision that Sheffield United must make happen - Ruben Selles will want it | OneFootball

The Blades could face a battle to keep hold of two key players this summer.

Sheffield United must keep hold of two key players ahead of their 2025/26 Championship campaign.

The Blades have appointed former Reading and Hull City boss Ruben Selles as head coach this summer, and the Spaniard will no doubt hope that he can once again deliver positive results at Bramall Lane this season but in the home dugout, having led the Tigers to a 3-0 away win in South Yorkshire last term.

However, Sheffield United's chances of winning promotion back to the Premier League could take a significant hit if they lose two of their best performers from the side that was defeated in the play-off final at Wembley last month, with goalkeeper Michael Cooper and midfielder Gustavo Hamer having both attracted interest from other clubs already this summer.

Premier League side Everton were reportedly plotting a move for Cooper earlier this summer, as per journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon, while Hamer has also been linked with a move to the Toffees, as well as newly-promoted top flight outfit Leeds United, via talkSPORT.

It is vital that the Blades keep hold of the duo in order to maximise their chances of winning promotion from the second tier this season, and that is no doubt the intention of new boss Selles.

Selles will want to keep Cooper and Hamer

Ruben Selles has experience of working under difficult circumstances during transfer windows, having been in charge of Reading under controversial owner Dai Yongge, so he is unlikely to be fazed by the prospect of fighting to keep hold of Cooper and Hamer this summer.

The 42-year-old has discussed his thoughts on Hamer's future, as per the Yorkshire Post.

"He's a Sheffield United player and I want him to be a Sheffield United player when the market closes," Selles said.

"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.

"He has been key for us and for the team and if we can keep him that will mean we are in a really powerful place to achieve our target.

"We are in a good place, we have a really good squad.

"We have room to get a couple of players that can improve our levels as well."

It is clear that the former Southampton boss does not want to see Hamer depart this summer, and given his comments about being happy with the current state of the squad, it seems highly unlikely that he will want to see Cooper be sold either.

Sheffield United must make key double decision

Sheffield United should send a warning to the rest of the promotion contenders in the Championship this season by making it clear that neither Hamer nor Cooper are available for transfer during the summer.

Cooper reportedly signed a four-year contract when he completed his move to Bramall Lane last year, while Hamer also penned a four-year deal when he arrived at the club the previous summer, so the Blades should not be under any huge pressure to sell either asset.

The ex-Plymouth goalkeeper conceded just 33 goals and kept 21 clean sheets in 43 league appearances last season, which highlighted his importance to Chris Wilder's side, with Hamer's creative output at the other end of the pitch also being a key factor in the Blades' run to the play-off final.

With those two lining up for the start of 2025/26 and beyond, the Blades will be confident of giving Selles exactly the tools he thinks he needs for promotion.