Sheffield United must target ‘huge talent’ amid Lyon’s relegation, who thinks Ruben Selles is ‘brilliant’

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Sheffield United are looking to go one better than last season’s Championship play-off final defeat in Ruben Selles’ maiden Bramall Lane campaign.

In the wake of the Blades’ defeat to Sunderland in the Championship play-off final, Ruben Selles replaced Chris Wilder as head coach.

The Spaniard was chosen to spearhead Sheffield United’s promotion push in the 2025/26 Championship campaign, months after Selles was sacked by Hull City.

After Blades fans called Wilder’s sacking “disgusting”, new boss Selles needs to win over the Bramall Lane faithful in his maiden campaign in charge, which is poised to be the best Championship season to date.

With promotion in mind, and one pivotal member of Sheffield United’s 2024/25 squad set to depart, Selles needs to target one French top flight star who could be available after Lyon’s recent relegation.

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Sheffield United should target Ainsley Maitland-Niles after Lyon’s relegation

In a strange turn of events, Sheffield United could prosper from Lyon’s relegation from Ligue 1, by targeting versatile defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the summer transfer window.

Seven-time French champions Lyon were relegated to Ligue 2 this week despite finishing in 8th, after being hit by a provisional relegation back in November, due to financial issues at the club.

Prospective new Sheffield Wednesday owner and current Lyon owner John Textor was labelled an “absolute disgrace” for his part in the relegation, and the Blades must capitalise on the impending summer exodus at the French giants to secure Maitland-Niles’ signature.

Former Arsenal prospect Maitland-Niles has made 73 appearances for Lyon, notching three goals and 11 assists in two seasons, since his free transfer from the Gunners in the summer of 2023.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta told Arsenal’s website that Maitland-Niles is a “huge talent because he’s versatile enough to adapt to almost any position on the pitch.”

Before his permanent departure from the Emirates, Maitland-Niles was on loan at Southampton during their 2022/23 Premier League campaign, at the same time that Selles was at St Mary’s.

Selles took temporary charge of the Saints following Nathan Jones’ dismissal, and was appointed until the end of the season, overseeing their relegation to the Championship.

Within the ill-fated campaign, Maitland-Niles lauded then-Saints interim boss Selles with praise, after Southampton picked up eight points from his first six top flight games in charge.

Via HampshireLive, he said: “I think he has been brilliant. Ever since I stepped foot in the building, he has been a very good figure for guiding me the right way, the Southampton way.

“Ever since he has taken over, he has just brought that energy, the belief and the positivity and it has got us really believing in ourselves.”

Aside from Maitland-Niles’ admiration for new Blades boss Selles, there is one glaring reason why the Englishman would be an important acquisition for Sheffield United this summer.

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Ainsley Maitland-Niles would be the perfect Hamza Choudhury replacement

During his loan stint from Leicester City, Bangladesh international Hamza Choudhury shone for Sheffield United throughout the campaign, with the Foxes loanee proving one BBC pundit wrong about his performances earlier in the campaign.

Choudhury finished the 2024/25 Championship as the Blades’ first-choice right-back, and the Blades reportedly had the obligation to buy him should they have earned Premier League promotion.

However, with their defeat in the play-off final, and Choudhury’s exceptional performance level last season, the Foxes could now decide to keep him.

As a result amid Choudhury’s uncertain future, Maitland-Niles would be the perfect replacement at right-back.

The 5-time capped England international has a wealth of Premier League experience, is capable of performing impressively in a handful of roles, and already has the connection with newly-appointed Selles.

Maitland-Niles’ acquisition would be the statement of intent Sheffield United need to send to their rivals for the 2025/26 Championship campaign in the wake of Wilder’s sacking and the play-off final defeat.