While Premier League trio Leeds, Brentford and Fulham are already in the mix, a new suitor emerged for Sheffield United talisman Gustavo Hamer on Friday; Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.
In truth, it is somewhat surprising that Hamer remains a Sheffield United player, less than a month out from The Blades’ Championship opener at home to Bristol City.
While EFL Analysis have been informed that Leeds remain keen admirers of Gus Hamer, alongside London duo Brentford and Fulham, a bidding war anticipated by many observers is yet to get going.
There is still time for that to change, however.
New Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles believes that Hamer is ‘happy’ with life at Bramall Lane despite the sting of that play-off final defeat to Sunderland at the start of the summer.
Reported interest from PSV Eindhoven, however, may test the loyalty of a Brazil-born playmaker who started his professional career in the Netherlands with Feyenoord.
Sheffield United lost Vinicius Souza to Wolfsburg earlier this month, though Gustavo Hamer is the man the Blades would have been hoping to keep at all costs.
Gustavo Hamer during Sheffield United v Bristol City - Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi Final Second Leg
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Dutch reporter talks up Gustavo Hamer PSV Eindoven links as Sheffield United pray
Hamer was named the Championship’s Player of the Year for 2024/25, while his ability to grab a game by the proverbial scruff of the neck and create something out of nothing turned many average performances into points.
EFL Analysis can confirm that Sheffield United wanted £18 million last summer, when second-tier rivals Leeds saw a £13 million bid booted away.
Dutch reporter Rik Elfrink believes that the Yorkshire giants may be willing to accept closer to £10 million these days, however, with only two years left on Hamer’s contract.
Elfrink, who works for the Eindhovens Dagblad newspaper and specialises in all things PSV, issued a fresh response on Friday when suggestions of a return to the Netherlands reared their head again.
“English media are now also reporting on Gustavo Hamer,” Elfrink wrote on X. “He’s been in the waiting room at PSV for a while, as they’re looking to strengthen their midfield.”
Hamer is not, however, PSV’s only target. Peter Bosz’s team are also looking at Sven Mijnans of AZ Alkmaar.
Ruben Selles praises Hamer’s performances after summer break
PSV, who snatched the Eredivisie title from under the noses of Ajax on the final day of 2024/25, have money to spend and an attacking midfield role to fill.
USA schemer Malik Tillman left the Philips Stadium while completing a £35 million move to Bayer Leverkusen recently.
“What I can say about Gustavo is that he’s trained really hard,” Selles said when asked to provide an update on Hamer, who really made his name in Holland with PEC Zwolle, this week.
“He’s come back [from the summer break] in good shape, he’s done everything we’ve wanted him to do and he’s a vital player for us.
“If we can, we need to try and keep him and I think he’s happy where he is. Hopefully, he’ll keep playing for us. He has been outstanding in terms of his character and behaviour, so nothing suggests to me that he will change.
“Obviously you can never say never because football is football and sometimes there are things that you cannot control. But if I can choose, and from watching his attitude, I would like to keep him with us, and I think he is happy where he is.”
Nordsjaelland’s £7 million-rated Denmark youth star Oliver Sorensen is a potential Gus Hamer replacement at Bramall Lane.