£30k-a-week star could be big Sheffield United winner in Vini Souza transfer exit | OneFootball

Could a door open for Tom Davies at Sheffield United, as another shuts for Vini Souza?

As one door closes, another one opens - that could be the case at Sheffield United this summer, with Tom Davies set to have an opportunity to step up if Vini Souza exits the club.

The 25/26 season brings about a fresh start at Sheffield United.

With Chris Wilder gone and Ruben Selles now in charge, writing the wrongs of last term and winning Premier League promotion will be the obvious remit.

For those players who had been on the first-team fringes under Wilder, the arrival of Selles marks a new chance to stake their claims, and carve out a bigger role in the squad moving forward.

One such player in that category is the former Everton central-midfielder Tom Davies, and he could see a chance to prove his importance, and win a starting role for the Blades, should Souza leave Bramall Lane before the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

Davies has been at United for two seasons, but has made just 25 appearances.

He played only nine games in the debut campaign at Bramall Lane, but he upped that to 16 in the most recent term, with three of those coming in the end-of-season play-offs where Bristol City fell victim to Wilder’s side, before Sunderland won the Wembley Stadium final in dramatic fashion.

However, if Souza moves on from the Blades this summer, he could see himself enjoying more opportunities.

German outlet AZ/WAZ have reported that Wolfsburg are confident Souza will join them this summer, despite reports that a deal is yet to be struck between the various parties.

A move away from the club for Souza would open the door for Davies to enter the United starting XI, allowing him to carve out a spot for himself in what is the final year of his contract, in which he is reported to be earning £30k-a-week (per Capology).

That could help the Everton academy graduate earn a new deal that would keep him in Sheffield in 12 months' time, or see him impress a potential suitor if he moves on from United at the end of the upcoming season.

With time ticking on his contract with the Blades, Davies will surely be keen to make an impression and reassert his quality as a Championship, or perhaps even a Premier League operator.

Sheffield United reshuffle under new boss Ruben Selles

Souza played 35 of United’s 46 league games last term, as the Blades finished third only to centurions Leeds United and Burnley.

That eclipsed what Davies managed in twice the time, evidencing the difference in their importance over recent times to the club.

The 26-year-old Brazilian was a key part of Wilder’s side, anchoring the team in the central of midfield. He had played 36 Premier League games during the season prior after the well-travelled Copa Libertadores winner swapped Belgium’s Lommel SK for the red side of Sheffield.

If he does exit Bramall Lane this summer it will see a reshuffling of the pack for Ruben Selles, as United’s new boss looks to stamp his impression on the team that so narrowly missed out on promotion last term.

Davies could the primary beneficiary of that, as the former England youth international looks to return to a consistent flow of minutes.

The 27-year-old has close to 200 appearances to his name in Everton colours, having played in 155 Premier League games for the top-flight mainstays after coming through their youth ranks.

With a new head coach to impress and a potential opening in the centre of the park, Davies could have the opportunity he needs to showcase his skills with time running down on his current Blades contract next season.