Sheffield United Season Preview (25/26) – manager, squad strength, predictions

With a fanbase caught between hope and anxiety — as Sheffield United gear up for another Championship campaign, Alec Hawley assesses whether the Blades can go one (or two) better in the new campaign.

Aug 07, 2025

Last Season

Most of you probably know all this, but …

It was (mostly) great until it wasn’t. The talismanic Chris Wilder once again found Sheffield United his ultimate muse and put together a very good squad that was a real mix of the old (Hamer, Anel, Vini), the new (Cooper, Burrows, JRS), and the old-but-new-to-us (Kieffer, Campbell, O’Hare). While there were some muted concerns about style of play and sustainability, the team (mostly) kept winning until the week that sank our automatic hopes: three losses in seven days against teams we "should" have been beating. It culminated with Wilder – like an uncle who's drunk too much at a wedding – ranting and raving after a 2-1 loss to Plymouth.

After that, a switch to 4-4-2 seemed to reinvigorate the side, and we went into the playoffs in decent form. A 6-0 aggregate win over Bristol City raised hopes of finally ending our Wembley curse, but after a strong first half had us 1-0 up at HT, we were first pegged back before finally conceding the winner in the 95th minute.

So, another year in the Champ, and the transfer speculation started almost as soon as the final whistle blew.

The Manager

Against the grain, Wilder was eventually sacked and replaced by the highly regarded Ruben Sellés. Our new owners mentioned "intensity in execution" and "an attacking style of play" when explaining the change, but it seems highly likely that one of the undisclosed motivations was a desire for a more global recruitment strategy. Much hysteria followed; many fans thought the decision was madness, and everyone agreed Sellés had some very big shoes to fill.

So far, he’s done a lot right. There’s a pleasing, calming precision and clarity to the way he speaks – he seems confident in who he is and what he wants to do. The previously abundant leaks to the media seem to have stopped, and we’ve seen the promised intensity in friendlies against lower-league opposition as he implements his 4-3-3 system. As much as I loved Wilder, I’m warming to Sellés. There’s a real maturity and professionalism to the way he’s going about things.

He’s inherited a good squad, but one that definitely needs reinforcing in certain areas.

The Squad

How to read:

⭐️ = likely starters
✅ = solid squad players
🏥 = often injured
🚣 = likely loans out

Goalkeepers

Michael Cooper ⭐️
Adam Davies ✅

Now Trafford is gone, there’s a strong argument that super Cooper is the best keeper in the league. Pretty good with his feet, a good shot-stopper, confidently claims crosses, and generally exudes a calm, confident aura that settles the entire team. With 21 clean sheets, it’s no surprise we’re fending off Premier League interest.

Davies is fine. It’s a big drop-off, but he’s done okay when called upon (five games in all comps last season). We look well set here unless Cooper leaves.

Right Back

Femi Seriki ✅
Sam Curtis 🚣
Jamie Shackleton 🏥

Seriki is the starter for now, but this is the glaring weakness in the starting XI. Last season, various loanees shared the minutes with him.

Seriki turned 23 in April but feels younger. A combination of injuries and unsuccessful loans meant last season was the first time he’d played significant minutes since Rochdale in League Two. He’s exciting, a dynamic ball-carrier with decent size who’s okay defensively, but still a bit raw. He lacks end product and can be careless in possession.

Shackleton would be an okay utility player, but struggles to stay fit. Sam Curtis is only 19 and needs regular football on loan, and our new Bulgarian RB Mihail Polendakov (18) will likely start off in the U21s.

Centre Back

Tyler Bindon ⭐️
Jack Robinson ✅
Rhys Norrington-Davies 🏥 🚣

The late departure of Anel Ahmedhodzic (to Feyenoord for £7m plus add-ons) has left a big hole. At Championship level, Anel was a Rolls-Royce (or maybe a Volvo) of a CB – good on the ball, good in the air, reasonably quick. With only a year left on his contract, it was always likely he would be sold. Twenty-year-old Malmo CB Nils Zatterstrom seems top of the list to replace him.

That puts more pressure on Sellés’ favourite Tyler Bindon, also 20, who joins on loan from Forest after winning POTY under Sellés at Reading. Remarkably calm, good in the air, and excellent on the ball, the Championship will be a step up – but he looks ready.

Even at 31, Jack Robinson remains a solid Championship CB. Loves a block, has a nice passing range, and has really cut down on his early errors. He lacks pace and isn’t dominant in the air, but he's now club captain and a strong dressing-room leader. Oh, and he’s got a massive long throw.

Norrington-Davies has had serious injury issues. He started two league games last season and didn’t impress. I'd be worried if he was starting at CB, and expect a loan to League One or Two.

Promising but raw youth options include Dovidas Sasnauskas and Jamal Baptiste.

CB was already a significant need. With Anel gone, it's now a glaring one. We need two signings: a ball-playing Anel replacement and a dominant physical presence to replace Harry Souttar. Club chatter suggests they want someone who can play both RB and CB, but ideally, we sign starters in both positions.

Left Back

Harrison Burrows ⭐️
Sam McCallum ✅

Still just 23 but with a mountain of EFL experience, Burrows is one of the best LBs in the league. Technically excellent, he got six goals and six assists under Wilder, playing more minutes than any other outfielder. Creative and defensively solid, he’s already a cornerstone.

McCallum (25 in September) is experienced and solid. Not as attacking, but a decent defender and good in the air.

In terms of proven depth, this is one of our strongest areas.

Defensive Midfield

Djibril Soumare ⭐️

The departure of Brazilian wrecking ball Vini Souza (and, to a lesser extent, Hamza Choudhury) has left a supermassive black hole in front of the back four.

To fill it, we’ve signed 22-year-old Senegalese DM Djibril Soumare from Braga. On loan with an obligation to buy if promoted, he should add much-needed physicality and his graceful ball-carrying is reminiscent of Sander Berge. The concern: he's only played 1,800 senior minutes and may take time to adapt.

If that happens, Sydie Peck may fill in, but he's more of a box-to-box player. We don’t know yet how he’ll fare as the lone pivot.

Another DM is definitely needed, and links to Everton's Tim Ireogbunam (22) make sense. A loan move could benefit all parties.

Central Midfield

Gustavo Hamer ⭐️
Callum O’Hare ⭐️
Oliver Arblaster ⭐️
Sydie Peck ✅
Tom Davies 🏥

Hamer was electric last season and was named Championship Player of the Season by FourFourTwo. Nine goals, seven assists, and more chances created than anyone else. He was the heart of the team. Sellés wants to play him centrally, but PSV Eindhoven are reportedly circling.

O’Hare presses relentlessly and has clear technical quality. But as a 10 in Wilder’s 4-2-3-1, he underwhelmed – just two league goals (plus two in the playoffs) and six assists. Off-the-ball work kept him in the XI, but questions remain. Sellés may use him as an attacking 8, but he’ll need to prove he belongs.

Arblaster showed enormous promise in 11 games before his ACL injury. A 20-year-old playing with veteran composure, he offered superb ball progression. He’s targeting a September return. Everyone is hoping he picks up where he left off.

Peck stepped up admirably after Arblaster’s injury. A press-resistant, combative midfielder with real presence and Arsenal academy polish. Named the club’s Young Player of the Year, he’ll need to develop his end product to remain in the XI when others return.

Tom Davies, when fit, is a very good Championship midfielder. The problem is, he rarely is. After a brief good spell last November, he’s injured again and missed preseason. His availability is a major unknown.

Right Wing

Andre Brooks ⭐️
Ehije Ukaki ✅

Brooks is fun. Still just 20, he impressed in the PL and got limited minutes last season behind Rak-Sakyi. He still managed three goals and two assists, and his all-around game looks ideal for Sellés’ 4-3-3. He’s now been given the #11 shirt and looks ready for a breakthrough.

Ukaki is a lively, diminutive winger with pace and flair. But the Championship is a big leap from the Bulgarian league, and a League One loan might serve him (and us) better. A more experienced RW is needed to rotate with Brooks.

Left Wing

Louie Barry ⭐️
Ryan Oné ✅

At 22, Louie Barry has already had quite the journey – from La Masia to Aston Villa to League Two and now back up the ladder. His dribbling and composure stood out last season in L1, and he’s looked sharp in preseason. He’ll be first-choice on the left.

Ryan Oné (only 19) has caught the eye in pre-season. Big, fluid, and powerful, he’s scored four goals playing from the left. With versatility and presence, he’s set for a proper breakthrough.

We’re well stocked here.

Striker

Tyrese Campbell ⭐️
Tom Cannon ✅

If Tyrese Campbell could play every minute … but he can’t. Managed carefully last year, he still bagged 10 goals in limited minutes. When fit, he’s one of the best strikers in the league: sharp movement, calm finishing, pace to burn.

Cannon joined for £10m in January and has struggled to find rhythm. But after a strong preseason (three goals, three assists), there's reason for optimism. He just needs to settle.

The sale of Kieffer Moore to Wrexham leaves a hole. One more striker is definitely needed – possibly someone who can also cover the right.

Hopes and Expectations

Let’s get the negativity out of the way. It’s been an underwhelming transfer window. Souza is gone. Anel is gone. Kieffer is gone. So far, only loans have come in. That’s not what we expected from ambitious US owners.

Clear voids remain: an experienced RB, two CBs (including an Anel replacement), another DM, another striker, and a more senior RW. A hybrid RW/ST could tick two boxes.

On the plus side, Gus Hamer and Michael Cooper are still here. Keep both, add smartly, and we can genuinely challenge for automatic promotion. Parachute payments help.

If either leaves, though, expectations shift. Losing either elite performer would be a major blow and could push us out of the top six.

Despite all this, I’m feeling hopeful. Sellés-ball should be more fun to watch, and while 90 points might be too much to ask, we should still be a top contender.

Ipswich and Southampton look strong, but if either stumble, we’re right there.