Gossip: Blades linked with defenderspublished at 12:31 BST 7 August 2025
12:31 BST 7 August 2025
Norwich are hoping to beat Leicester and Sheffield United to the signing of England under-21 defender Callum Doyle, 21, who is valued around £10m by Man City. (SportsBoom, external)
The Blades are also keen on Hull City defender Charlie Hughes, 21, who worked with boss Ruben Selles at the MKM Stadium last season. (SportsBoom, external)
Atalanta's former England and Everton defender Ben Godfrey, 27, is another linked with a move to Bramall Lane. (Pete O'Rourke, external)
'Blades' opener will test pre-season changes'published at 17:37 BST 5 August 2025
17:37 BST 5 August 2025
Adam Oxley BBC Radio Sheffield journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Sheffield United will go into the new Championship season with many of the players who came within a whisker of promotion to the Premier League.
There are seasoned professionals, players with top-flight experience and plenty of exciting youngsters; both from the Blades' academy and those who have been recruited over the past few seasons.
There are also a lot of unknowns at Bramall Lane as a new era begins with new manager Ruben Selles chosen to lead the Blades by American owners COH Sports in their first full season in the boardroom.
The time to fully judge a club's summer business is when the transfer window closes but, right now, while the squad has quality, it feels weaker than last season and lacks depth in several areas.
And part of that is due to players choosing Championship rivals over a return to Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United offered record signing Rhian Brewster a new contract and reportedly wanted to re-sign fellow striker Oli McBurnie.
But Brewster has elected to join Derby and Hull City are set to win McBurnie's signature - those are two teams who were battling relegation last season.
Ahmedhodzic and Souza were key parts of last season's promotion push, with both starting the Championship play-off final, and supporters will expect the significant sums received for the pair to be reinvested over the next month.
Some would be happy to see Brewster, McBurnie and Moore plying their trade at other second-tier clubs this season, as all three players had their critics among the Blades' fanbase.
Others will have concerns about the club's ambitions off the pitch, and its ability on the pitch to compete for promotion - considering this summer's business so far and in referring to what the board said in a statement when Selles was appointed.
"As owners, please know that we remain unwavering in our goal: to see Sheffield United not only return to the Premier League, but to establish ourselves as a club that can compete consistently at a high level," the statement said.
In May, the Blades beat Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate over two legs in the play-off semi-finals to secure their place at Wembley.
This Saturday's Championship opener at Bramall Lane between the same two sides will provide an initial test of the changes made in pre-season and an indication of the work still required if the Blades are to succeed where they ultimately fell short last term.
Gossip: Blades eye Cooper replacementpublished at 11:08 BST 30 July 2025
11:08 BST 30 July 2025
Sheffield United could consider a move for Wigan Athletic's English goalkeeper Sam Tickle, 23, should current stopper Michael Cooper, 25, depart for a Premier League side. (Star), external
Gossip: Blades & Dragons lose out on Holdingpublished at 10:42 BST 25 July 2025
10:42 BST 25 July 2025
Wrexham and Sheffield United have lost the battle for Crystal Palace defender Rob Holding, 29, with the Englishman preferring a move to MLS side Colorado Rapids.(EFL Analysis), external
Selles' style of play 'suits me to a tee' - Serikipublished at 15:29 BST 24 July 2025
15:29 BST 24 July 2025
Image source, Getty Images
Sheffield United defender Femi Seriki has said new head coach Ruben Selles' style of football "suits me to a tee".
The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough year at Bramall Lane under former boss Chris Wilder last season, making 27 appearances and competing with Hamza Choudhury and Alfie Gilchrist as the club's first choice right-back.
Now under Selles, Seriki believes he can take his game to another level.
"It's definitely a different style of play, a lot of intensity, a lot of running and a lot of pressing but it's good, I'm enjoying it," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.
"It's been tough but it's been good. I'd say it suits me to a tee.
"Me, Harrison [Burrows], Sam [McCallum], the other Sam [Curtis] - full-backs being on the front foot. I'm enjoying it.
"For us, it's about knowing when to press, when to get to a man and then obviously shuffling as a back four, making sure we're not leaving ourselves too exposed and get the right timing."
The Blades have changed - is it enough?published at 15:37 BST 23 July 2025
15:37 BST 23 July 2025
Andy Giddings BBC Radio Sheffield journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Sheffield United are at a transition point in their history. There is a new transfer methodology, a new manager, and a new style of play.
Upon the appointment of Ruben Selles, the new-ish board asked for patience. But things have altered at Sheffield United and patience is a rare commodity in football anyway.
There is a theme either from the terraces, phone in callers, podcasters and bloggers that achieving 92 points last season wasn't enough. Literally, as it turned out, and figuratively.
No longer happy to enjoy the ride, some – insert your own percentage of the fan base – wanted more substance and more style. Is it entitlement? No. Arrogance? Not in my opinion. A sign of the progression the club had made? Yes, definitely.
It reminds me of an irate caller to our post match phone in, Praise or Grumble, who said: "We should be beating teams like this?" Me: "You did".
The call took place minutes after Chris Wilder's side had earned a narrow 1-0 win at Luton, a side also relegated from the Premier League in 2024 and on their way to a second drop.
Blades fans have become accustomed to success, relatively speaking, in the past nine years.
They have not finished lower than fifth in the Championship table in the past six years; that heady run also includes three seasons in the Premier League and a brief flirtation with the idea of European football.
It's a far cry from 2016 when they finished 11th in League One, their lowest finish in 33 years. It leads me to a discussion point on Football Heaven this week: Did the Blades 'fail' by not going up?
In the zero sum game that football is, yes, but it came after one mad, winless week in April and 20 mad minutes at Wembley against Sunderland. Plus the extraordinary seasons of centurions Leeds and Burnley.
David, a Blades caller who called this week, said: "I think 92 points for that squad is pretty much par for the course."
The caller's rational dissection of last season failed to acknowledge until prompted the difficulties in squad building of the previous summer and the lack of depth that didn't arrive until the January, at which point the Blades were top.
And that leads me back to Selles, who has taken a job with no real margin for error.
In my opinion he's made a good start, if pre-season is any gauge at all.
When 'on it' there is an intensity about their play, they press higher up the pitch, and there is a fluidity of movement in attack that's been good to watch. It's not yet judgeable as better or worse, but different. And it's pre-season.
But concerns persists for many about who may be sold from last seasons squad and whether the new, computer driven, recruitment model will find adequate replacements should it be required.
Achieving promotion, with a perception of 'style' under the watchful eyes of an increasingly expectant fan base is Selles biggest challenge yet.
