West Ham may now be dealt Sheffield United transfer setback after Norwich City deal | OneFootball

Andre Brooks' sale could be all Sheffield United need to keep Sydie Peck at Bramall Lane this summer

Norwich City have secured a somewhat surprising deal for Sheffield United wide man Andre Brooks, for a fee which is being described as "substantial".

In an ideal world, the Blades wouldn't want to sell any key players ahead of the season, especially those with more than one year remaining on their contracts, and especially to a divisional rival and one who will have similar ambitions of returning to the play-offs, at least.

However, this summer is set to be one in which Sheffield United need to make smart financial decisions, with their Premier League parachute payments running out at the end of last season. This summer is the first without them ahead of a second-tier campaign since 2018/19.

That means that the Blades' spending power will be limited, and more funds will need to be raised to balance things out. Plus, the new Squad Cost Ratio rulings cap the amount teams can spend to 85% of their income, so again, more is stressed on what the club can bring in so they can then invest elsewhere.

The sale of Brooks, a boyhood Blade who came through the academy, wouldn't have been ideal, but the mooted fee of £8 million up front, which could rise to £9 million if Norwich get promoted, and even more, according to other reports from the Sheffield Star, will help Sheffield United out massively when it comes to their finances this season.

Sheffield United may be inclined to keep Sydie Peck after Andre Brooks' sale this summer — West Ham would be affected

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Brooks resembles pure profit for Sheffield United, putting them in a healthier place financially, when the lack of parachute payments would have seen them short-handed initially.

There's a potential that such an important sale, added to some other departures, such as Gustavo Hamer, Tyrese Campbell and any other players out of contract next summer, may decrease the immediate need to sell some key players under longer-term deals, namely Sydie Peck, who is arguably the Blades' most saleable asset.

Peck has come through the academy at Sheffield United following his release from Arsenal back in 2021, and, like Brooks, has gone on to establish himself as one of the more important players at Bramall Lane since the Blades returned to the Championship.

The 21-year-old had made just three senior appearances for the club before the 2024/25 campaign, but has missed just eight games over the past two years and captained the side at times last year, too.

Peck, at such a young age, has all the potential to make it at a top club, and there has, understandably, been interest from clubs looking to bridge that gap to one of England's elite sides.

Brentford and Nottingham Forest have been linked this past month, as have West Ham, with reports stating that the 21-year-old is "high" on the recently relegated side's list.

But, with Peck contracted at Bramall Lane until 2028, there isn't as much of a demand to sell him just yet, at least not as much of one as there may be with the likes of Hamer and Campbell.

If Sheffield United back themselves to be a promotion contender with Peck in their side, and they can afford to keep him at the club, after banking a sizeable fee for Brooks, too, then West Ham could be set to miss out.

Sheffield United's Andre Brooks precedent could price West Ham out of a move for Sydie Peck

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Even if Sheffield United still feels like the time is right now to sell Peck, his contract situation may make a move to West Ham a stretch too far.

The Star wrote that Sheffield United chose to cash in on Brooks this summer rather than "risk" losing him for a cut-price this time next year as he enters the final year of his deal.

You could argue that the same could end up happening with Peck, but if the Blades were able to recoup up to an eight-figure package for Brooks, they'll be making sure they hold out for a large fee for the midfielder.

West Ham will likely be among the big spenders in the Championship next season, given their lengthy Premier League past, large commercial revenue for the division and the amount they are likely to receive in player sales, too, but they've still got to be smart about their business.

If Sheffield United command close to £25 million for Peck, for example, which they could easily do, as they aren't under any contract pressure to sell, the Hammers may feel that to be a fee they aren't willing to pay for one player as they look to rebuild a squad, while a side such as Brentford could.

Either way, whether selling Brooks means Sheffield United can keep hold of their star midfielder, or it acts as a way for the Blades to get more money if a sale does come around, it's likely to be detrimental to West Ham in their pursuit.