Sheffield United Championship Odds: Can Blades overcome heartbreak?

How does a club respond having posted 92 points on the pitch in the regular season, dominated a play-off campaign but failed to gain promotion after a mad final 20 minutes at Wembley? Well Sheffield United are going to find out. 

They were clearly the third-best team in the league in 2024/25, but failed to get over the line and as a result, Chris Wilder was replaced by Ruben Selles this summer. With a couple of key departures, how will they fare this time around? Below you can find my Sheffield United Championship Odds along with a season preview. 

In terms of the points total, Selles faces a big task to make Sheffield United ‘better’ than they were last season. However, in terms of performances, they might be able to improve. Despite registering 92 points on the pitch and competing with Burnley and Leeds United right up until the last couple of weeks of the season, they only posted a goal difference of +27, in comparison to Burnley’s +53 and Leeds’ +65. 

They won a lot of games by one goal, and although Wilder was able to create a siege mentality, it unravelled at the end of the league campaign with three defeats in a week. They should have won the play-off final, but they didn’t - and so the change, even though it seems harsh on paper, has been made. 

Selles is highly-rated having kept Hull City up and done well at Reading, but it will be interesting to see whether he flourishes with a stronger squad, or buckles under the pressure. 

Championship Odds

Transfer business

In: Ehije Ukaki (£500k), Mihail Polendakov (£500k), Djibril Soumare, Louie Barry and Tyler Binden (all loan).

Out: Vinicius Souza (£14m), Anel Ahmedhodzic (£6.5m), Kieffer Moore (£2m), Rhian Brewster (free), Ivo Grbic (loan). 

As you can see from those outgoings, Sheffield United have taken a couple of big blows this window. Vinicius Souza was unlikely to ever stay more than one season in the Championship and departed for Wolfsburg for decent money, while Anel Ahmedhodzic headed to Feyenoord. They are two top Championship players who have now left the club, and the incomings look to be pretty risky. 

Louie Barry is the only name of note that could be a success after he worked with Selles at Hull, but really this window is about Sheffield United retaining some of their other stars. Gustavo Hamer won Player of the Season in the Championship last term and remains at the club, along with kay figures Tyrese Campbell and Michael Cooper. 

I’d like to see the squad fill out a bit more, especially in defence, but they’ve got some key players that should shine at this level once. Sydie Peck and the returning Ollie Arblaster should make up a tasty midfield partnership.

Key Player: Gustavo Hamer

The best player in the league last season somehow remains at the club, and although there is interest from the Netherlands, he could well stay at Bramall Lane for another year. We all know what Hamer is about by now, but Wilder was strangely using him out on the left where he scored 10 goals and got eight assists. 

His best position is as a box-to-box midfielder where he can get stuck into tackles and show his true quality on the ball, but Hamer is the type of player you have to build a team around in the Championship. I think Selles will be fully aware of that fact and with the arrival of Barry to play on the left, should move Hamer inside. 

If he stays, he will probably be the best player in the league again. He’s that good.

Prediction: 4th

Sheffield United were one of the best teams in the league last season, and although I can see the reasoning behind backing them to drop off slightly, I can’t put them out of the play-offs. Their new manager should lead to more statistical dominance in matches and although he may not have the ‘Wilder factor’ I do think Selles will do a sterling job. 

I think the squad still has the potential to push the relegated teams, with Hamer, Arblaster and Peck a serious midfield at the level. Add Callum O’Hare to the mix and Cooper in goal and this side shouldn’t drop off too much. They are lacking centre-backs with Jack Robinson and Forest loanee Bindon the only two obvious candidates so far, but I presume that will be addressed across the rest of the window with the Ahmedhodzic and Souza money. 

Football Odds

I see them registering around 80 points to make the play-offs, where they will put the memory of 2024/25 far behind them. 

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