Chris Wilder lands another Leeds United star as Sheffield United reunite with Patrick Bamford

Daniel Farke has once again made some significant decisions early in the summer as he shapes his Leeds United squad ahead of the new season.

The Leeds boss left several players out of the club’s pre-season trip to the United States, with Max Wober, Largie Ramazani, Jack Harrison and Joe Gelhardt all omitted from the travelling squad.

The message was clear: the quartet were not central to Farke’s plans and could be allowed to leave Elland Road during the transfer window.

That process is already well underway. Wober has departed for Schalke as a free agent, while Harrison has returned to Major League Soccer. Ramazani and Gelhardt, meanwhile, continue to attract interest as Leeds look to find suitable solutions for the pair.

Farke took a similar approach last summer when he informed Patrick Bamford that the striker was unlikely to feature prominently in his plans.

Bamford subsequently reached an agreement with Leeds to terminate his contract and spent several months without a club before finding a new home at Sheffield United.

The move saw Bamford become another former Leeds player to work under Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane.

The Blades have developed something of a Leeds connection, having also brought in Kalvin Phillips, Joe Rothwell and Leo Hjelde during the previous season.

Sheffield United are now looking to build on their campaign and improve on the 13th-place finish they recorded last term.

Wilder has already secured another reunion with Phillips, with the Manchester City midfielder returning to Bramall Lane on loan for the upcoming season.

Phillips spent part of the previous campaign with Sheffield United but his spell was badly disrupted by injury, limiting him to just three appearances.

Nevertheless, Wilder is hoping the midfielder can stay fit and rediscover the form that previously made him one of English football’s most highly regarded midfielders.

Sheffield United’s latest business comes as Leeds continue to assess their own midfield options.

The Whites were interested in Southampton’s Shea Charles earlier in the window, but were unwilling to meet the reported £30 million asking price. The midfielder now appears set to move to Fulham instead.

Leeds also missed out on Julian Brandt, who has joined Ajax on a free transfer.

With the transfer window approaching its final weeks, Leeds are still expected to strengthen in midfield. A central midfielder and an attacking midfielder remain among the positions the club could target as Farke and the ownership group look to improve squad depth.

For Wilder, meanwhile, the return of Phillips provides another familiar face as Sheffield United attempt to push higher up the Championship table.