Leeds United and Liverpool players must be on Sheffield United's 3-man wish-list | OneFootball

Chris Wilder has spoken about using the loan market wisely in the wake of Gustavo Hamer's departure - they should target these three players

Sheffield United will be on the hunt for someone to take over the creative mantle left by Gustavo Hamer this summer, as the Dutchman looks set for a return to Coventry City.

The move is set to be completed at any point, with Hamer absent from the Blades' EFL Cup first-round win at Mansfield Town on Sunday, and manager Chris Wilder stating that they will need to "move on" from him shortly.

In the same interview with BBC Sheffield, Wilder said, "We need to find a replacement who can fill that position. [...] Steve [Bettis] and the owners know that we need to replace Gus with a top player."

With Sheffield United currently in the midst of their first transfer window as a Championship club without Premier League parachute payments, they're having to cut their cloth accordingly, and there'll be an onus on using the loan market to perfection to bring in a creative wideman.

"We have to be patient," Wilder continued, "Clubs want players to leave on permanent deals, and when they know they can't leave on permanent deals, then the loans become available, and I imagine that will be the case."

So, with Sheffield United needing that creative spark, here are three Premier League players who could find themselves available for loan as the window begins to enter its final weeks.

Lewis Koumas

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Lewis Koumas didn't have the second season out on loan from Liverpool that he'd have envisioned, following a promising campaign with Stoke City during the 2024/25 term.

The 20-year-old was one of the plethora of summer arrivals at Birmingham City this time last year, but as was the case with the sheer number of players the Blues brought in, some of the signings were left by the wayside.

Koumas was one of those, and was relocated in January to Hull City, where he played a similar role off the bench, but was a little more impactful in Sergej Jakirovic's system, netting three times in 17 league appearances.

But, overall, he made just 11 starts in 40 league games and played just six minutes of Hull's successful play-off run. He played a part in Andoni Iraola's first pre-season at Liverpool, but the chances of him being part of the senior squad when the Premier League campaign gets underway are rather slim.

Koumas evidently has the quality to be among the better left-wingers in the Championship and, if given a more prominent role in a side, could be in for a breakout campaign.

Burnley have emerged as a potential suitor this window, but perhaps Sheffield United could be better-positioned to give him the minutes to oversee those next steps.

Anis Mehmeti

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Albanian international Anis Mehmeti has only been at Ipswich Town for six months, but you get the feeling that he could be on his way out of Portman Road late on in the transfer window as a result of the Tractor Boys improving the squad for the Premier League.

The 25-year-old was electric for Bristol City in the opening half of last season, scoring eight, assisting six and being one of the few Robins players who was fit enough to start all 28 league games he was available for.

Ipswich took advantage of his contract situation at Ashton Gate, signing him for a cut-price deal of £3 million in January, and while he started more times than he came off the bench for Kieran McKenna's side, he didn't have as much of an impact as they hoped, scoring twice in 18 games.

Mehmeti didn't showcase enough to prove that he can make the step-up to the Premier League this season, and with several attacking wide men at the club who can play behind the striker, too, the Albanian may see himself surplus to requirements as the window goes on.

The 25-year-old would be a perfect Hamer replacement at Sheffield United as a more central creative midfielder who can also carry a goal threat off the left-hand side, too.

Largie Ramazani

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Largie Ramazani's route back to being a regular member of the Leeds United fold seems nigh-on impossible.

The Belgian spent last season out on loan at La Liga outfit Valencia, but his six goals haven't been enough to convince Daniel Farke to change his stance on him. The German boss didn't include him in the 30-man pre-season squad on their American tour.

A return to Spain seemed the easiest way out of Elland Road, but with two years left on his deal, the Whites aren't pressured to accept a cut-price deal, and have rejected a loan-to-buy offer from Valencia this summer.

As the window goes on, that may change, and Sheffield United should definitely push towards a deal for Ramazani, as his goal return in the Championship with Leeds in the 2024/25 campaign was more efficient than anyone else.

The Belgian wideman scored six times in under 800 minutes of league action in a Leeds shirt, and many fans inside Elland Road were a bit frustrated that he wasn't given a chance in the Premier League last year.

Chris Wilder has shown in the last 12 months that he's not against bringing players with a connection to Sheffield United's Yorkshire rivals. Arguably, this one would have a lot more excitement surrounding it than the likes of Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips.