Sheffield United face clear Barnsley transfer mission after Chris Wilder plea | OneFootball

Sheffield United should make a move for Barnsley winger Reyes Cleary after manager Chris Wilder sent a strong transfer message to the board.

After a summer of high-profile departures, it is set to be a crucial final few weeks of the transfer window for Sheffield United that could define their season.

It was a turbulent campaign for Sheffield United last season as they finished 13th in the Championship, but manager Chris Wilder's promise of big change at Bramall Lane has not quite materialised in the way Blades fans would have hoped so far this summer.

Sheffield United face fresh transfer dilemma after Gus Hamer, Coventry City developments

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Sheffield United released three big names at the end of their contracts this summer in Ben Mee, Tom Davies and Danny Ings, and they were surprisingly followed out of the exit door by Wilder's long-serving assistant Alan Knill and first team coach Guilherme Ramos.

Knill is not the only shock departure at Bramall Lane this summer, with winger Andre Brooks making the move to Championship rivals Norwich City in June for an initial fee of £8 million, which could rise to as much as £10 million if add-ons are met.

The Blades would no doubt have been disappointed to lose Brooks, who had established himself as an integral part of the senior squad after coming through the academy, and they have been dealt a fresh blow in recent days as midfielder Gus Hamer closes in on a return to former club Coventry City.

Hamer was widely expected to move on this summer as he entered the final year of his contract, but having scored seven goals and provided 13 assists in 39 appearances last season, he will leave big shoes to fill, and United may be frustrated to be receiving just £6 million for the 29-year-old.

The Blades have made just two new signings so far this summer, with Matt Doherty joining on a free transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Romelle Donovan arriving on loan from Brentford, but they will need to be active in the remainder of the window to bolster an increasingly thin-looking squad.

Chris Wilder sends strong transfer message to Sheffield United board

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Sheffield United made a positive start to the season as they won 3-0 at League One side Mansfield Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Sunday, but Wilder's comments dominated the headlines post-match after he claimed that a marquee signing would be needed to replace the outgoing Hamer.

"Steve [Bettis, chief executive] and the owners know that we have to replace Gus with a really top player," Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I personally think we're in a good place. We're maybe two or three players off being in a better place, so I'll always push to do that.

"We've lost Gus, Andre [Brooks] went, so we have to move on and we have done. If we want good loans, we're going to have to be really patient.

"Clubs want players to go out on permanent deals and when they know they can't go out on permanent deals, then the loans become available."

However, it remains to be seen what calibre of player the Blades will be able to bring in, with The Star reporting that the club are likely to look to find Hamer's replacement in the loan market, and much of the money from his and Brooks' sales is set to be used to cover the shortfall in income rather than be reinvested in the squad.

Sheffield United should launch Barnsley transfer raid for Reyes Cleary after Gus Hamer exit

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With finances clearly still tight at Bramall Lane, Sheffield United may need to be creative as they begin the search for Hamer's successor, and Barnsley winger Reyes Cleary could be an exciting option.

After a loan spell with Hartlepool United in the National League, Cleary made a permanent move to Oakwell from West Bromwich Albion, and he enjoyed an outstanding debut season with the Tykes.

The Blades were one of three Championship clubs to be linked with Cleary in the January transfer window, along with Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City, while Derby County were credited with an interest in the 22-year-old earlier in the summer as his list of suitors increases.

Barnsley chief executive Jon Flatman insisted in June that Cleary would only "leave the club when the numbers are right", but those comments suggest that the Reds could be open to selling if their valuation is met, which could open the door for United.

Cleary may be unproven at Championship level, but his stunning return of 23 goal contributions last season suggests he could be ready to make the step-up to the second tier, and those numbers are all the more impressive given that he was playing in a side that finished 15th in League One.

While Cleary would be more than capable of making an immediate impact at Bramall Lane, he still has plenty of room for improvement, and if the Blades could develop him over the coming years, they may be able to sell him for a significant fee in the future, just as they have with Brooks this summer.

Barnsley are believed to have rejected bids of up to £3 million for Cleary in January, so it would likely take more than that figure to prize him away, but while their budget may be limited, United's recent improved bid in the region of £8 million for Leicester City defender Harry Souttar implies that funds are still available.