Rating every key Sheffield United player's chances of staying | OneFootball

Football League World takes a look at which of Sheffield United's key players they have a chance at retaining this summer

Sheffield United are set to begin a third consecutive campaign in the Championship for the first time in 16 years.

That 2010/11 campaign ended in relegation to League One, and while that won't be on anyone's mind heading into 2026/27, there's an acceptance that there'll be a slight struggle to leave the second tier in the opposite direction this season.

The quality of the Championship is set to be incredibly high next term, with the recently relegated Premier League sides combining with those who came so close to promotion last year and the teams who underperformed expectations, such as the Blades.

Sheffield United will hope to be in amongst the promotion conversation, but with this being their first second-tier campaign without top-flight parachute payments since 2018/19, they'll be at a financial disadvantage compared to some of their peers, as they'll have to be smart with their spending and perhaps offload some saleable assets to help balance the books.

Football League World have analysed how likely some of those assets and key players are to stay at Bramall Lane this summer to aid in a promotion push, 10 being incredibly likely to stay.

Japhet Tanganga - 9/10

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Kicking off the list is Sheffield United's captain Japhet Tanganga, who may go down as the only good signing under Ruben Selles last summer.

The former Millwall man was highly sought after in the summer, and it was seen as a big coup when the Blades managed to get his signature over the line. This past season, he clearly showed why.

Barring his red card display against Charlton Athletic and the three games that followed through suspension, Tanganga played every minute he could for Sheffield United in the Championship last season, and if the Blades are to be competitive again next year, the 27-year-old will have to marshal the backline.

With the Blades signing him on a three-year deal last summer, there's no immediate demand to sell, nor is there any concrete interest from any other clubs. He's as good as safe, but there's always a chance that a bigger side comes in for him between now and the window closing.

Harrison Burrows - 6/10

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Harrison Burrows has had a slight down year in his second season at Sheffield United compared to his first, as Sam McCallum started to take his place when Chris Wilder returned to the dugout.

But he still managed to contribute five goals and four assists from left back, and from February onwards, he began to re-emerge as one of the first names on the team sheet in the wake of a season-ending injury to McCallum.

The 24-year-old still has the potential to play higher up, and recently-relegated West Ham have identified him as someone who could replace El Hadji Malick Diouf, according to an exclusive report from FLW, to try and engineer that step-up.

Sheffield United definitely will want to keep Burrows around, as he could be one of the best in his position in the division going forward, and they may get enough money from other sales to ensure that they don't have to let go of the former Peterborough United man.

Femi Seriki - 10/10

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The emergence of Femi Seriki as a breakout star on the right side of the Sheffield United defence has been a rare positive in a campaign filled with negatives.

The youngster was on the fringes of action during the 2024/25 term, and it would take him a few months into this past season to put a string of starts together. But once he did in November, he was hardly out of the side.

The 24-year-old finished the campaign with a goal and five assists in 29 Championship starts, and everyone associated with the club is excited to see how he can improve and develop next season.

With no concrete interest as yet this summer, the Blades will be hopeful of tying him down to fresh terms this summer (his current deal runs out next year), which would see him stick around for the long term.

Sydie Peck - 2/10

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Sydie Peck is arguably the most saleable asset that Sheffield United has currently, with the 21-year-old Englishman still under contract for a couple of years, allowing the Blades to maximise a fee, and with plenty of potential to play at the highest level.

The former Arsenal academy prospect is "high" on West Ham's shopping list this summer, and Premier League sides Brentford and Nottingham Forest have also registered interest in Peck.

While no one will want to see the exciting midfielder leave, it won't be the end of the world if Sheffield United can bring in a hefty fee for someone who cost them nothing when he arrived at the club in 2021.

With Oli Arblaster waiting in the wings, too, as he gears up for his first full season back from a lengthy ACL injury, there's a replacement ready to fill his shoes. So, reluctantly, it makes sense to let him go this summer.

Gustavo Hamer - 4/10

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With Gustavo Hamer heading into the final year of his Sheffield United contract, it's truly make or break to see where his future lies.

With the Blades less than likely to let him play as he enters his contract year for fears of losing him on a free transfer this time next year, the Dutchman will either agree fresh terms at Bramall Lane or depart for new pastures.

Interest has cooled a lot compared to this time last year, primarily due to Hamer having less of an impact than he did in 2024/25, when he won the division's Player of the Season, but also with him turning 29 in late-June, he doesn't resemble a player who a top team can make a profit on in a few years.

However, there have still been some murmurs this summer about a potential move to Turkey, and other top-flight sides not in the traditional top five leagues may register interest, too. If that becomes more concrete, Sheffield United definitely should cash in, especially if Hamer chooses against signing a new deal.

Callum O'Hare - 8/10

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Callum O'Hare is coming off a much-improved second season at Sheffield United, even if things weren't as plain sailing from a team perspective.

Nine goals and seven assists earned him the Blades' Player of the Year, and that will obviously have some clubs perhaps knocking on the door to see if they can entice him elsewhere this summer.

But, with another two years left on his deal, plus the option of a third, Sheffield United do hold all the cards when it comes to a potential sale, and if Hamer does leave, then O'Hare will be relied on a lot more as the main creative outlet at Bramall Lane next season.

That's not ruling out any sale. If a big enough offer comes in, the Blades may struggle to refuse, but like Tanganga, they'll be confident of keeping him this summer.

Patrick Bamford - 10/10

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And ending the list with a 10/10, it'll be hard for any club to come in with a worthwhile fee to take a 32-year-old Patrick Bamford away from Sheffield United, so it's likely he'll still be leading the line for Chris Wilder's side next season.

The former Leeds United frontman reminded everyone what he was capable of at his new club in South Yorkshire, netting 13 in 29 games in all competitions - his highest tally since the 17 he netted in the Whites' Premier League return under Marcelo Bielsa.

Ahead of his first full season, there's some optimism that Bamford could maintain that level and perhaps push towards 20 goals, which would be vital in Sheffield United's push towards the play-offs.