Sheffield United: Kean Bryan is challenged to achieve great things at Bramall Lane after leaving Manchester City

Kean Bryan, the former Manchester City defender, has been challenged to follow in the footsteps of Kieran Trippier and Ben Mee after becoming Sheffield United's fifth close season signing.
Kean Bryan has joined Sheffield UnitedKean Bryan has joined Sheffield United
Kean Bryan has joined Sheffield United

Bryan has agreed a three year contract with Chris Wilder's side after leaving the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer, although the Premier League champions have inserted a buy-back clause into the deal.

Although the youngster failed to make a senior appearance for City before heading to South Yorkshire, Wilder highlighted the achievements of Trippier and Mee since leaving the top-flight club in similar circumstances."I've told Kean he won't be the only footballer who comes out of City's academy who goes on to do really well elsewhere," the United manager said. "Look at how highly-regarded Ben Mee is now at Burnley or what Trippier is doing for Spurs and England."Kean is a talent. He's come through the England system and should fit in really well with our ethos. We feel he can grow with us and develop him."Bryan, aged 21, has been capped twice at under-20 level and joins John Egan, Dean Henderson, David McGoldrick and Ben Woodburn at Bramall Lane ahead of Saturday's Championship opener against Swansea City. Having impressed on loan with Oldham Athletic last term, his presence means United will not have to overhaul their tactics if either Egan or Jack O'Connell are unavailable for selection."We've done it with that in mind," Wilder, confirming City also negotiated a sell-on clause before sanctioning Bryan's departure, added. "But he's also expected to push hard, compete and get himself in there."With the window for permanent signings set to close next week, United are continuing their pursuit of Ipswich Town centre-forward Martyn Waghorn as Wilder applies the finishing touches to his squad. "The deal is out there," he said. "We have put a bid in for him, and it’s there. The football club, manager Paul Hurst, and the agent knows about it. We feel it is a reasonable fee, we are not frightened and afraid to be aggressive, go after people and spend."We broke the club record fee for John (Egan), but we won’t get sucked into silly stuff. There’s obviously a bid out there for Martyn, and is a player we have been working hard to deal with. But he has options, and might even stay at Ipswich if the valuation doesn’t get met, and we move on."With United thought to have offered around £5m for Waghorn, Wilder added: "We have got other situations, but we just have to be patient and see what falls."All these players in the next three weeks (until the loan deadline), can’t go to every club. We are in the hunt, it’s a moving target, and if it moves - and we feel we want to to - we will go for it, and certainly add to what we have at the top of the pitch."We need competition at the top of the pitch, and we are looking to bring one in. We’d like to do it sooner rather than later."