Sheffield United may have dodged Cardiff City transfer bullet - Ruben Selles wanted him | OneFootball

Sheffield United may not regret missing out on one transfer in the summer window

Sheffield United will be intent on forgetting just about everything throughout Ruben Selles' brief and ill-fated reign as they plot an ascent up the Championship table after returning Chris Wilder to Bramall Lane.

Brought in to replace the hugely-popular Wilder following last season's play-off final defeat to Sunderland, Selles endured a miserable spell in charge of the Blades that, in reality, will not be forgotten quickly.

Indeed, Selles himself had been dismissed by Championship rivals Hull City, albeit contentiously at the time, though the Tigers are now motoring on rather nicely against all odds under Sergej Jakirovic.

But United would not benefit from their Selles decision, with the Spaniard remarkably losing all of his six games leading the club before being sacked in the wake of a harrowing 5-0 defeat at Ipswich Town last month. The pre-season promotion hopefuls found themselves rooted to the foot of the division and are now showing signs of life under Wilder once more, collecting consecutive recent victories over Watford and Blackburn Rovers ahead of Friday evening's trip to 11th-placed Preston North End.

But, given United's largely-abject start to the season, a number of signings brought in by Selles have failed to impress. It's now a clean slate with Wilder, of course, and the early indications are that combative loanee midfielder Djibril Soumare could prove to be an inspired find.

However, United may have just dodged a bullet with another player who Selles wanted, and ultimately failed to, bring to the red-and-white quarters of the Steel City.

Ruben Selles' Sheffield United held Cardiff City, Cian Ashford transfer interest

The young winger enjoyed a first-team breakthrough with the Bluebirds last season, having long been hailed as a future star in the making as he progressed through the academy ranks with much fanfare and generated excitement.

Ashford established himself as a regular during the second-half of the campaign and returned two goals and three assists from 28 appearances and 17 starts in the Championship, but he was unable to prevent Cardiff's relegation into League One, while the then-20-year-old also scored the only goal in a third-round FA Cup victory at Bramall Lane in January.

Selles himself played his cards close to his chest when quizzed on Ashford, though the reported target was described as a "talented young player".

The former Southampton and Reading boss said of Ashford: "Well, as much as I know, he is a Cardiff player.

"He was a talented young player last season and he did well, besides the end of the season for them. And yeah, I think he will be on the list for many clubs in the Championship."

As it turned out, any potential interest from South Yorkshire failed to materialise. Ashford was deemed "not for sale" in the Welsh capital and was not agitating for a move, either, in spite of relegation out of the Championship.

Whether United will ever reignite their interest in the Wales youth international once more remains to be seen, although the evidence thus far suggests that, for now at least, a bullet has been dodged.

Sheffield United have dodged short-term Cardiff City, Cian Ashford transfer bullet

Cardiff have, generally speaking, enjoyed an uplifting start to life in League One for the first time in more than 20 years. The Bluebirds, buoyed by a young, talented squad featuring a litany of homegrown academy products including Ashford and many others under the tuition of progressive and popular head coach Brian Barry-Murphy, sit atop of the League One standings after 12 matches heading into Saturday's crunch affair at Bolton Wanderers.

But Ashford's performances, in the eyes of many, have offered a rare sense of disappointment for Cardiff. From 11 divisional outings, nine of which have been starts, Ashford has only managed to contribute one goal and one assist, and, though tactically enforced above all else with the intention of holding on to a lead, was hauled off after coming on as a substitute in last weekend's 2-1 victory over Reading.

Other wide options such as Isaak Davies, Omari Kellyman and Chris Willock have all impressed for Cardiff this term, which could force Ashford down Barry-Murphy's pecking order in the weeks and months to come.

Two goals and two assists from 15 appearances across all competitions for a 21-year-old winger is, of course, far from the world's worst return and his more ardent backers will tell you that Ashford has simply become something of a scapegoat for an increasing number of City supporters.