Last summer, Leeds United refused to pay Sheffield United’s £20 million asking price for Gustavo Hamer because the Elland Road leadership did not believe it was worth the money.
The Whites have defeated their Yorkshire rivals in the race for automatic promotion, but if they had gotten their way in the transfer market and acquired Hamer, it might have been decided far sooner.
As it happened, a deal never ended up materialising, but it can hardly be argued that the Dutch maestro wouldn’t have made Daniel Farke’s starting 11 a lot better on the face of it.
Leeds United hierarchy stance on Gus Hamer summer transfer pursuit revealed
It became clear in the later part of the August 2024 transfer window that Leeds intended to attack Sheffield United, their Championship rivals, for Hamer, who many would consider to be their top player.
It was surprising that no top flight clubs in England or Europe gambled on Hamer, given that he had contributed 10 goals in the Premier League for a struggling Blades team. This was especially true after it was revealed that he had a release clause in his contract because of the Blades’ relegation.
However, according to The Athletic, that provision had already expired by the time Leeds were interested in Hamer. United was eager to acquire a top, creative player to complement their present offensive capabilities when Georginio Rutter was transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The people in command at Bramall Lane flatly rejected Leeds’ £13 million offer for Hamer when the clause expired, but it was believed that a proposal of around £20 million may have been sufficient to get them to start contract negotiations for the 27-year-old.
But according to a story by The Athletic, senior Leeds management did not think Hamer was worth that kind of transfer money, therefore he continued his adventure with Sheffield United, leaving Daniel Farke with only Brenden Aaronson as a natural number 10.
Gus Hamer could be an attractive Leeds United target this summer if Sheffield United don’t get promoted
Whilst Leeds’ transfer committee had every right to think that Hamer was not worth the £20 million that could have gotten a deal over the line, the mercurial Dutchman has somewhat proven that he’s a level above the Championship this season.
Chris Wilder found a new role for Hamer at Bramall Lane as more of an inside left-winger, and with 16 goal contributions to his name, he has certainly been the star of the show.
Although he has contributed with nine goals in the league, Aaronson hasn’t played well for Leeds at the 10 position this season. You have to wonder what Hamer’s stats would have been if he had been signed in the end.
