Sheffield United backed to make ‘priority’ move for West Brom star if Gus Hamer leaves | OneFootball

FLW’s Sheffield United fan pundit has commented on who should replace Gus Hamer this summer, should the Dutchman leave Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United will be accelerating plans ahead of the 2026-27 Championship campaign as they look to put a rather dismal previous one behind them.

The Blades started off the 2025-26 term in worrying fashion by occupying the foot of the table under former Hull City boss Ruben Selles, with Chris Wilder returning to the club to help push them away from the relegation mire.

While they achieved that, the Yorkshire outfit failed to kick on any further under his guidance, still showing worrying inconsistencies, which resulted in the club securing a mid-table position of 13th.

Meanwhile, the club will find it tougher to get back to the top end of the Championship standings as they prepare for a rebuild this summer due to the loss of parachute payments by the Premier League.

And those financial restrictions have been seen over the course of the summer transfer window so far, with the Blades only bringing in two players during the window, with defender Matt Doherty linking up on a free transfer, while 19-year-old winger Romelle Donovan has moved to the Steel City on loan from Premier League outfit Brentford.

United may well be busy during the latter stages of the transfer window though, particularly if star player Gus Hamer departs Bramall Lane.

Journalist Will Oelrich has reported that Hamer has held positive talks with former employers Coventry City over a move back to the CBS Arena this summer, while the Blades are believed to still owe the Sky Blues money from the transfer back in August 2023 and that could well play a crucial part in a deal materialising.

With this in mind, FLW’s Sheffield United fan pundit has listed some replacements the Yorkshire outfit should attempt to sign if Hamer’s move back to Coventry develops.

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Speaking to Football League World, Sheffield United fan pundit Jimmy (AKA Blades Ramble) believes the Blades should be searching for a more traditional left-winger to replace Gus Hamer, with the Dutchman leaving the backline exposed given playing out wide on the left flank is not his preferred position.

Because of that, he’s pinpointed West Brom’s Mikey Johnston as a player the Blades should move for, should Hamer complete his departure from Bramall Lane.

Jimmy told FLW: “First I’m not convinced that United owe anything to Coventry, but it would be a link that makes sense anyway.

“We know he feels strongly about Coventry, and I think Hull are also a possibility, but I also wouldn’t rule out him staying.

“If he was to leave, then it leaves a void on the left-hand side. We’ve said for a while that it’s not really Gus Hamer’s position to come in off the left as it leaves us unbalanced a bit and leaves our full-back exposed, so for everything he gives you as a positive going forward, he can leave you vulnerable defensively.

“I would like more of a legitimate left-winger, somebody to compliment Donovan who we’ve now got on the right wing.

“Even somebody like Ben Brereton Diaz, who isn’t necessarily an orthodox winger, but he’s a bit more inclined to stay out on the left-hand side.

“I would love someone like Mikey Johnston at West Brom. We’ve been linked with Reyes Clearly previously, so that’s maybe a possibility.

“We’re losing a really good player in Gus Hamer if he is to go, and as I say, I’m not 100% convinced that he does, but if he does, we have to have a contingency plan in place, and I think a left-winger should be the priority.”

How Sheffield United fans have reacted to Gus Hamer exit links

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Sheffield United may struggle with Mikey Johnston pursuit given West Brom situation

While Mikey Johnston may well be one of the most suitable wingers to replace Gus Hamer, Sheffield United may struggle at this moment in time to lure him away to Bramall Lane.

Currently, the Baggies, managed by James Morrison, are desperately short of wide options heading into the 2026-27 campaign.

After waving goodbye to the likes of Karlan Grant and Jed Wallace on free transfers, it leaves the Baggies with just two senior wingers on their books in Johnston and academy graduate Ollie Bostock.

Therefore, you have to feel Albion would need to bring some fresh faces in to even consider letting Johnston go, but even still the Republic of Ireland international is viewed as one of their standout players and would take a sizeable bid to see him exit from B71.

So at this moment in time, it’s difficult to see a move for Johnston being pulled off, but the Blades need to get Hamer’s replacement right if they are to be back fighting towards the top end of the Championship standings next season.