Chris Wilder confirms Sheffield United stance on Nils Zatterstrom future, Mark McGuinness transfer fee
Chris Wilder expects both defenders to attract interest before the transfer window closes, with Sheffield United prepared to sanction departures as the Blades reshape their back line.
Chris Wilder is confident that Sheffield United will field interest in defensive pair Mark McGuinness and Nils Zatterstrom this summer after signalling that their futures lie away from Bramall Lane for at least the short-term. The pair were made available for a move earlier in the summer.
Swedish international Zatterstrom is being lined up for another loan move, having moved to Serie A side Genoa last season before they declined to take up the option that was inserted into the deal.
But United will not stand in McGuinness’ way if a suitable permanent offer is received, with Wilder identifying a different profile of centre-half required to partner Japhet Tanganga next season.
Top of his wishlist is Leicester City man Harry Souttar but other options are being considered in case the Blades can’t get a deal over the line for the 6ft 6in Australian international this summer.
“I think they'll be takers for both,” Wilder said. “They've played or been involved in pre-season. They understand it, their agents understand it and they're working hard on it. Nils is a young player but he needs football.
“Both of the boys' attitudes in pre-season have been outstanding but sometimes there are decisions that you have to make. They all want to go and play first-team football as well. Mark never came here to not be involved and Nils wanted to push to get into the first team.
“So we'll monitor that. He didn't play last season when he went out so he has to go and play 23, 24, 25 games before Christmas. Then we can have a longer look at him instead of playing in our 21s, a league that we win near enough every year.”
McGuinness arrived at Bramall Lane only last summer, in a big-money deal Wilder has pegged at £5m, but failed to convince and lost his place to Nottingham Forest loanee Tyler Bindon.
He has been overtaken in the pecking order by 22-year-old Jamal Baptiste, who has only played a couple of times for the Blades in senior football, while Wilder insists that the door is not completely closed on Zatterstrom at Bramall Lane.
“He's still contracted to us, and he's a younger player,” Wilder added. “He's a different profile to Mark. Mark's gone for five million and I don't know what we paid for him, five milion. He's gone for big money.
“He wants to play first-team football.He needs to play first-team football. It's no good him being in a squad and not seeing an opportunity to play. He needs to play, and that's the best interest of club, me and Mark himself.”