Sheffield United have turned down a bid of £13 million from Leeds United for their star midfielder Gustavo Hamer, as per The Star.
The offer, described as “a million miles away” by the Blades boss Chris Wilder, is unlikely to prompt Leeds to return with an improved bid before the transfer window closes on Friday night, according to BBC journalist Adam Pope.
Hamer, who has been a standout performer for the Blades since joining them for around £15 million from Coventry City last summer, has attracted interest from several clubs, but Sheffield United are firm in their stance to retain the Dutch-Brazilian playmaker.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, speaking at a press conference after the bid was rejected, hinted at the disparity between the club’s valuation and the offers received. “There’s been a couple of bids for players. One was pretty close [to the player’s asking price] and one was a million miles off,” Wilder said, without directly naming Hamer, but it was clear his comments were directed towards the Leeds offer.
The £13 million offer from Leeds is practically an insult and it’s a poor effort to try and get the player to force a move. At Coventry, Hamer conducted himself professionally amidst transfer speculation, his excellent attitude added to his ability is exactly why he is still respected by the Sky Blues’ faithful.
Hamer is not the only player in the Sheffield United squad being eyed by other clubs. As the transfer deadline looms, speculation has also surrounded Anel Ahmedhodzic, with reports linking the Bosnian international defender to a potential move. When Ahmedhodzic was absent from the team sheet for Saturday’s game against Norwich City, fans feared the worst, believing his transfer was imminent.
However, Wilder quickly moved to quash those fears, clarifying that Ahmedhodzic’s absence was due to illness and not related to any potential transfer. “His illness was genuine, and we are very hopeful of getting him back next week,” Wilder assured fans in his post-match interview.
Sheffield United bracing themselves for more bids
As the clock ticks down on the transfer window, Sheffield United are bracing themselves for further interest in their key players with Oliver Arblaster and Vinicius Souza two names that may be on several teams’ radar. But with the rejection of Leeds’ bid for Hamer, the Blades have sent a clear message: they will not be letting their top talents go unless their valuations are met.
United have already sold Will Osula this summer for a reported fee of £15 million rising to £20m, and with a takeover close to being completed there may not be any need to sell any players this week.
Even if the Blades receive a very good offer for one of their star players, they still may not accept given there is only a few days left to try and find a replacement. In Hamer’s case, many will argue he is irreplaceable at Championship level: he racked up 31 goals and assists in the second tier between 2021/22 and 2022/23. He’s already got off to a flying start this season having bagged twice and registering an assist in the opening three games.
