Alan Biggs: Sheffield United will make healthy profits by moving on these players - keeping their momentum rolling

Sheffield United have targets from Reading, Nottingham Forest, Wigan and Bournemouth...sounds familiar?
Chris Wilder, manager of Sheffield United gives instructions to John Lundstram (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Chris Wilder, manager of Sheffield United gives instructions to John Lundstram (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Chris Wilder, manager of Sheffield United gives instructions to John Lundstram (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

For John Swift, Matty Cash, Antonee Robinson and Aaron Ramsdale, substitute the raft of Championship players who joined Sheffield United last summer, continuing into January.

And the thinking is probably close to the same. Staying in the Premier League, as competitively as possible, or being strong enough to come back quickly if you don’t.

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For all the scorn rightly poured on United’s critics of this time last year, one observation made at the time did carry some logic, if not ultimate truth.

Chris Wilder, manager of Sheffield United (Photo by Peter Powell/Pool via Getty Images)Chris Wilder, manager of Sheffield United (Photo by Peter Powell/Pool via Getty Images)
Chris Wilder, manager of Sheffield United (Photo by Peter Powell/Pool via Getty Images)

It was suggested that, without buying ready made Premier League players, the Blades were failing to equip themselves to do more than fight to stay up.

While in practice that argument was rubbished by a magnificent ninth place, the theory wasn’t so far removed.

But the performance of the team and squad still served as a warning not to underestimate this mode of recruitment and it’s doubtful those detractors will make the same mistake again.

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Unable to afford the established and with many positions to cover, Chris Wilder chose to recruit players for development, proven in the league below, so that if the team were relegated they could rebound.

It’s not so very different this summer because, for reasons beyond anyone’s control, the Blades are still not in a position to muscle themselves forward.

Not that Wilder has given up on progress being made, he’ll insist upon it as far as is possible.

Except that in this instance standing still would be progress - and you can’t stand still in order to achieve that.

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A few outgoing possibilities, whether desired or not, could aid the freshening process. John Lundstram is in play, Callum Robinson likewise and a question mark hovers over Lys Mousset.

Now here’s the trick. These players cost United £700,000, £7m and £10m respectively (total £17.7m). Even with Covid-19 lowering prices, the Blades could expect to make a handsome profit on all three, Lundstram especially.

That is what you call management in the round and why Wilder keeps that big ball of momentum rolling.

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