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Sheffield United will be looking to mend their broken hearts in 2025/26 as they push for promotion back to the Premier League.
It’s been an intriguing summer at Bramall Lane, with fans shocked after Chris Wilder departed the club just a month after Tommy Watson’s Wembley winner for Sunderland in the Championship play-off final.
Ruben Selles has come in to take charge after he was sacked by Hull City in May, and the addition of Louie Barry on loan from Aston Villa is a good one. But more quality is still needed following Vini Souza’s move to Wolfsburg.
However, keeping hold of key players is also a target for the Blades, and Michael Cooper is one name that has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with West Ham United taking a look at the Sheffield United shot-stopper.
West Ham United register interest in Sheffield United goalkeeper Michael Cooper
Selles has tried to ease fears over a potential sale of Cooper, however, it has now emerged that West Ham are targeting the ex-Plymouth Argyle man.
That’s according to Alan Nixon, with the Hammers having also shown an interest in Mads Hermansen of Leicester City. He said: “Cooper has emerged as a major target and Hammers will make final checks on him before the window shuts.
“Blades would want around £15m for the keeper they sneaked out of Plymouth for just £4 million a year ago. United turned down an approach from Everton recently and Cooper was not keen. He may fancy Hammers if he is given a first team chance.
“West Ham have a staggering list of keepers under review like Leicester’s Mads Hermansen and Parma’s Zion Suzuki who are both in the £30m plus range. Hermansen is now on Newcastle’s shopping list after long-term target James Trafford chose to join Manchester City instead.
“However, the Hammers are keen at the right price if Leicester drop the fee down to the £20m range.”
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Ruben Selles must not sell Michael Cooper
Cooper was an incredible signing for Sheffield United last summer, and without him in the team, they would not have been pushing for an automatic promotion finish.
While they failed to end the campaign in the top two, the role that the goalkeeper played in the Blades’ season was huge and he will be a big player once again in 2025/26.
Sheffield United perhaps do not have as much quality across their squad as others, and having a safe pair of hands in goal is crucial if they are to push for promotion.
With less than two weeks to go until the first Championship fixtures of the season, letting go of a player with Cooper’s quality would be very ill-advised and Selles must do everything he can to keep Cooper at Bramall Lane.