Sheffield United have eight months to resolve contract issue for ‘tidy’ ace Chris Wilder loved

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There’s a plethora of problems at Sheffield United right now, but aside from poor form on the pitch, the Blades have a key player with a contract expiring next summer that they cannot afford to lose.

It’s been a rough start to the season for Ruben Selles and Sheffield United, to say the least. Four defeats in four have left the Blades bottom of the league, and it’s the worst start to a season in 30 years for the club.

There’s plenty of talk around Ruben Selles’ future, and while we understand he isn’t one bad result away from the sack, Selles does need to turn things around quickly.

Regardless of who is in charge in a few months’ time, there’s a player in the Sheffield United squad who could be free to leave in eight months if the Blades hierarchy doesn’t sort him out with a new contract.

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Michael Cooper’s contract expires in 2026

Aside from Gus Hamer, it would be fair to say that Michael Cooper is the most important player in the Sheffield United XI right now.

The shot-stopper was one of the best ‘keepers in the Championship last season, keeping 21 clean sheets in 43 appearances.

Former coach Chris Wilder was delighted with Cooper’s impact when he signed him, describing him as a ‘really tidy’ goalkeeper who helped the Blades play the kind of football he wanted them to.

But, his contract expires in June 2026. Cooper will be free to talk to teams outside of England in January and sign a pre-contract agreement to leave Bramall Lane, and would become a free agent next summer unless he is handed a new deal soon.

Given Cooper was linked to Everton earlier this summer, surely Sheffield United will not want to lose him for nothing.

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Leicester City must surely fancy taking Michael Cooper

Whether Cooper would be Premier League bound or not remains to be seen. He would need another good season under his belt to ensure a jump to the top flight, but there are plenty of clubs that would be keen to sign him.

Any club promoted from the Championship would surely be keen, while we’re sure Cooper himself may well fancy a move to Leicester City, the club he supports.

We wonder whether that may be on Cooper’s mind as this season goes along. Playing as well as he did last year would not only have the Blades putting a new contract on the table, but would alert top clubs to Cooper’s abilities and give him a real bargaining chip.