Sheffield United told 'exciting' Gus Hamer replacement might be waiting at Barnsley | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield United fan pundit has given his verdict on the club's reported interest in Barnsley winger Reyes Cleary.

It is set to be a busy summer for Sheffield United after an underwhelming season in the Championship.

After a nightmare start to the season, Sheffield United parted company with Ruben Selles in September and brought Chris Wilder back to the club for a third spell, and his strong initial impact prompted talk of a possible play-off push at Bramall Lane.

However, it has been a disappointing second half of the campaign for the Blades, and while they did end a six-game winless run with a 2-1 victory over sixth-placed Hull City on Saturday, they can no longer mathematically reach the top six with just four matches remaining.

Wilder recently warned his squad that he will be "making a lot of changes" this summer, and it seems the process of identifying transfer targets has already begun, with journalist Alan Nixon reporting on Sunday that Barnsley winger Reyes Cleary is once again on the club's radar.

United were first linked with Cleary, who has scored six goals and provided 15 assists in 44 games for the Tykes this season, back in January, and Wilder did little to shut down the speculation on that occasion, admitting that "he's one that we've had a look at internally".

Having watched Cleary in action for Barnsley in recent weeks, the Blades could be set to reignite their interest this summer, but they may face strong Championship competition for his signature, with Preston North End, Swansea City and Hull also said to be keen, while Blackburn Rovers had a bid rejected for the 22-year-old in January.

Sheffield United urged to seal Reyes Cleary deal amid Gus Hamer exit fears

When asked for his thoughts on the club's reported interest in Cleary, FLW's Sheffield United fan pundit Jimmy, from the YouTube channel Blades Ramble, insisted that he would welcome the winger's arrival at Bramall Lane, claiming he could be a suitable replacement for Gus Hamer if he departs this summer.

"Reyes Cleary is a good player, I like the look of him," Jimmy told FLW.

"He played well in the first half of the season for Barnsley, although he's not been involved as much lately.

"Is that because a move might be on the cards?

"He's a really good, young, exciting prospect.

"I'm fully expecting there to be a lot of interest in Gus Hamer in the summer, and he's obviously our left-sided player at the minute.

"We're not going to replace Gus Hamer in terms of talent, but to be linked with a really good, up-and-coming prospect from a local side, which does play into it as well.

"He wouldn't have a lot of upheaval in terms of coming to Sheffield United, he wouldn't have to move house or anything like that.

"I know we were linked heavily in January, and if reports are to be believed, he was actually in the building at one stage, so it wouldn't surprise me at all.

Sheffield United could face Reyes Cleary stumbling block due to Barnsley demands

Wilder has made no secret of his admiration for Cleary, so it seems likely that Sheffield United will make a move for the Barnsley man this summer, but it remains to be seen whether the two clubs can agree a deal.

It was reported in January that the Tykes valued Cleary at £5 million, and while he has shown serious potential during his outstanding debut season at Oakwell, that is a significant fee to pay for a player who is unproven at Championship level.

If United decide to cash in on Hamer this summer as he enters the final year of his contract, that could free up funds for a bid for Cleary, but they may be reluctant to meet Barnsley's high asking price, particularly with their parachute payments coming to an end.