Sheffield United can seal simple Gus Hamer upgrade if Ipswich Town play ball | OneFootball

Sheffield United could upgrade on Gus Hamer with the addition of Jack Clarke this summer

Sheffield United will be fully focused on next season, where the Blades will be hoping for a change in fortunes ahead of a crucial summer transfer window in South Yorkshire.

It hasn't quite been a vintage year for Sheffield United, who, having reached the play-off final in 2025, dropped a mighty 30 points in comparison to the season prior, slipping from 3rd on 90 points, all the way down to 13th on 60.

Indeed, had they achieved the same tally this time around, it would have been enough to seal automatic promotion, but given the unpredictable nature of the Championship, they will be playing second-tier football once again.

With their parachute payments set to expire this summer as well, it will be a challenging window for Wilder to navigate, who may be resigned to sanctioning sales of some of the club's key assets to generate funds, including Gustavo Hamer.

The Dutchman will soon be entering the final 12 months of his deal at Bramall Lane, and, at 28, the Brazilian-born Dutchman will likely be on the move this summer.

Hamer finished the season with the most assists in the league this year with 12, one ahead of Stoke City's Sorba Thomas, and Wilder may be looking to swap his creativity for goals in the form of a certain Ipswich Town winger.

Sheffield United could seal Gustavo Hamer upgrade in the form of Ipswich Town's Jack Clarke

Ipswich Town are on their way back to the Premier League, in what will almost certainly be a busy summer at Portman Road, as Kieran McKenna assesses his squad before deciding on who he believes could have a positive impact in the top-flight.

Jack Clarke hit 16 league goals for the Tractor Boys this season, finishing behind only Swansea City's Zan Vipotnik (23), Hull City's Oli McBurnie (17), and Coventry City's Haji Wright (17), whilst level with Wrexham's Josh Windass.

This was despite the 25-year-old starting just half the games he was available for, making 46 league appearances but starting just 23, as he battled with Jaden Philogene on the left flank for the bulk of the campaign.

McKenna must decide on Clarke's future in the coming months as to whether he is capable of making the jump to the top-flight, as Sheffield United reportedly linger in interest in the former Leeds United winger.

Clarke joined Ipswich for £15 million from Sunderland in the summer of 2024 upon their initial promotion to the Premier League, and has since gone on to score 19 and assist eight in 85 appearances for the club.

The York-born winger remains under contract in Suffolk until the summer of 2029, and should Ipswich intend to keep him around, the Blades will have little to no chance of being able to convince him to make the switch to South Yorkshire.

However, if Ipswich are willing to part ways with Clarke, Sheffield United may well stand a chance of luring him to Bramall Lane, and the sale of Gus Hamer will go some way to help fund any potential move.

The two, whilst both have predominantly played off the left, are not similar players in almost any regard, with Clarke focused on picking the ball up before taking on a defender and getting a shot off, whereas Hamer prefers to pick a pass out and doesn't always take on an opposition player.

Any move for Clarke would instigate a big change in the way Sheffield United attack, and the creative threat of Hamer will have to be found elsewhere in the squad, though that isn't to say that the Ipswich winger isn't capable of being creative.

A move for Clarke and the departure of Hamer would represent a change in which Wilder wants to play, though whether that will be for the better remains to be seen.

Chris Wilder must prepare for a change in style at Sheffield United if Jack Clarke and Gustavo Hamer deals are completed

Should Clarke join, and Hamer leave, it would represent a significant shift in the way Sheffield United have played this season, though that may not necessarily be a bad thing due to the way their season has panned out.

The creative emphasis from the left flank would instead become the emphasis of where the goals come from, assuming Clarke would indeed play off the left.

The winger has showcased his ability to find the back of the net consistently for Ipswich this campaign, despite his lack of game time, and would almost certainly become the Blades' star player if any move were to happen.

With no formal bids at this stage made for either player, it's merely just speculation, but certainly a saga to keep an eye on.