Gus Hamer situation poses Sheffield United question with no easy answer as Blades' future plan made clear
Sheffield United face a difficult decision over Gus Hamer this summer, with the midfielder entering the final year of his contract and no straightforward solution to his future.
There are a good number of players at Bramall Lane that Sheffield United would be happy to see the back of this summer, but it’s safe to say that Gus Hamer is not one of them. The future of the Blades’ most talented man is set to dominate a key summer in South Yorkshire.
He is set to enter the final 12 months of his current deal in less than two months, which is around the time that United normally cash in on players to avoid them running down their contracts and potentially leaving on a free.
That has been the case of late with the likes of Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye, plus Anel Ahmedhodzic last summer. United’s vulnerability in those cases saw them depart for a fraction of their true transfer value.
And that will be the dilemma facing the Blades ownership this summer, if - as expected - they field some interest in a man named Championship player of the year as recently as the season before last.
It’s a classic stick-or-twist situation, with no clear answer. Potentially risking a £15m player leaving for free would clearly make no business sense. Selling a player of his quality for, say, £5m - which wouldn’t buy one his legs in a regular market - would be ludicrous from a football point of view.
Boss Chris Wilder has publicly insisted that United will not be taken for fools in the summer transfer market in terms of valuations of their players, and it is now over to those above him to retain that hardline stance.
What would make things a little simpler, of course, is if Hamer agreed to sign a new deal at Bramall Lane. The Star has been told that the possibility is not completely off the table from the player’s side, although it will inevitably come at a price.
From his perspective he is understood to be settled enough at United, although there are some personal reasons swirling in the background which at some point may make a return to the Netherlands appealing.
There is also obvious speculation linking him with a return to Coventry City, from whom United signed him and where he returned recently to take in their celebrations after promotion to the Premier League.
But as strong as his relationship was with Sky Blues fans was, and perhaps still is, there is also a lot of mutual love between him and Unitedites as well, as shown in the final-day scenes at Derby County last weekend which were interpreted in some quarters as something of a farewell.
That remains far from a formality, although there remains a very distinct possibility that he is playing his football elsewhere come the closure of the summer transfer window. As ever, only time will tell.
But it is also perhaps telling that, as we revealed recently, United’s coaching staff have already drawn up plans to alter Hamer’s role if he remains at Bramall Lane next season, to be utilised more centrally after two seasons playing off the left.
What United do not need is for the Hamer saga to dominate the summer, for uncertainty to still be lingering in the closing stages of a window Wilder has long targeted as key to reshaping his squad. If he - or for that matter, any other United players - are to go, it must be for the right price and with enough time for adequate replacements to be secured.
“Yes, we don't want that to happen,” admitted Wilder, on the prospect of the situation dragging on. “But it can happen. It's happened before here, so we have to deal with that if that’s the case. But his attitude has been absolutely spot on.
“I said to him, coming off at the end: ‘If this is your last game, I really appreciate the effort you've put in for the football club and myself over the last 18 months and a little bit more. I'd love to work with you again.’
“If he is here and he stays, then great. If he doesn't, then he gets the recognition that he deserves for the efforts that he's put in. Supporters don't get it wrong. Their reaction to him going on at the end, I think, tells the story.”
With an underwhelming season seeing United finish 13th, they have even less margin for error next season. Wilder’s remit is expected to focus on loans, frees and small frees once again. Having a player of Hamer’s quality, capable of tipping the balance of tight games in United’s favour, could be worth more than any potential fee on the table.