Sheffield United take Gus Hamer, Tyrese Campbell contract steps in bid to avoid painful transfer repeat
Sheffield United take Gus Hamer, Tyrese Campbell contract steps as Blades look to avoid painful transfer repeat
Sheffield United have made contact with the representatives of two of their key players as they look to avoid a repeat of previous damaging situations which have seen star men depart for knock-down prices. The Blades have suffered that scenario in recent years with the likes of Anel Ahmedhodzic, Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye.
All three were sold for below their market value after entering the final year of their respective Bramall Lane deals, and Unitedites have grown cautious of history repeating itself in the future.
This time around it is star players Gus Hamer and Tyrese Campbell who are preparing to enter the final 18 months of their United deals, which are currently set to expire in the summer of 2027.
Hamer has been a brilliant signing since arriving from Coventry City while Campbell is back amongst the goals again this season, already halfway towards equalling last season’s regular-term tally of five after his brilliant brace in the derby against Wednesday recently.
Boss Chris Wilder has always been a manager who keeps an eye on the short, medium and long-term plans at his boyhood club and as such it is no surprise to hear that the situation is already on his radar.
“I've pushed that already,” he said ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with Stoke City. “I've pushed that button already on both those players. We don't really want to lose players to frees. Unfortunately, sometimes they run it down and that's difficult.
Sheffield United take Gus Hamer, Tyrese Campbell contract steps as Blades look to avoid painful transfer repeat
“Then you think there has to be a succession plan in terms of where you work off the back of that. But we've already pushed that button with Gus's agent and Ty's agent and seen what the feedback and enthusiasm is back off them.
I like to think there will be from the players' point of view, in terms of us being ambitious and trying to win games and improve our league position and ultimately what happens off the back of that. They've been outstanding for me. They've not had a good start to the season.
“I've got to say, I was a little bit disappointed with them because I think that regardless of what happens, they're key players, they're big characters, they're big influencers. But we've got over that and getting Gus back is huge for us.
“You've seen his contribution at the game against Portsmouth last home game, and what he can produce. What he did last season and what I'm sure he will do in the remaining games that we've got.
“And Ty getting back fit, on form, looking to go for it as well. Of course, there's always the younger element in terms of tying those boys up but the senior ones we want to build with. I don't think we need, and I don't think we want, a mass exodus at the end of every season and having to rebuild the team every year.
“Hopefully we can get into the situation where we're looking at three or four a year. Coventry were the ones that kept all the best players, kept Rodoni, kept the big centre-half, kept the other good players that they've got and added to it. And Gus and Ty want to see good players come through the door.
“Maybe that was a by-product of their early season form, that they saw some good players come out the door and what happened off the back of that. But hopefully they'll be part of the build and it won't be such a huge build going forward.
“I'm sure if you speak to the boys, they enjoy the football, they enjoy what it's all about, the environment, the culture, the togetherness of the football club, which you can see growing.
“Obviously results help and players see that we're a progressive football club. It's been a difficult start to the season but we're doing our best to reset and move it forward. They’re popular players with the supporters and they've got to keep producing those performances that we know they've got inside them.”