Chris Wilder issues important Sheffield United transfer update from pre-season training camp

Wilder, the United manager, made the admission after his team’s first pre-season friendly of the summer - against Dundee United at Tannadice Park - was abandoned at half-time as a precautionary measure due to the stormy conditions on Tayside.

Callum Robinson started the match despite being the subject of interest from West Bromwich Albion, with United understood to be demanding Scotland international Oli Burke in exchange.

Reading midfielder John Swift and Matty Cash, the Nottingham Forest defender, are also known to feature on Wilder’s wanted list. However, with the Covid-19 pandemic continuing to wreak havoc with football’s finances, Wilder conceded: “I think it (the window) always feels slow. I’m so impatient its frightening, and I’m always asking and putting huge pressure on the people around me. They understand that, they know it’s not personal.

“It’s a different market and you have to look at that. We’ve made one big signing this summer and I’m delighted we’ve made it.”

Wilder, whose team were leading 1-0 when their meeting with the Scottish Premiership club fell victim to the weather, was referring to Aaron Ramsdale - who completed his return to Bramall Lane, for an initial £10m, last week following three years at AFC Bournemouth. Ramsdale, aged 22, made his first appearance in a United jersey against Micky Mellon’s men while another new arrival, fellow goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, featured on the bench.

However, six senior players were ruled-out of the fixture, which could be followed by another friendly in Scotland on Friday, due to a combination of injury and measures put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus - which forced competition on both sides of the border in March. Although England’s leading two divisions eventually completed their calendars, Scotland’s fixture programme was shelved.

“There’s things we are working on,” Wilder said. “There’s a couple of players potentially who we are going to let go out and there’s a couple of positions to cover and improve. We are working overtime, as we always are - and we’ve made our big signing now.

“We have to make sure, from a financial point of view, that we do it right with who is available.”

Confirming United are also looking to enter the loan market, Wilder added: “That’s also available to us and we are going to use it. The key is, when the window shuts and I’m sticking the team down on a bit of paper, that it looks stronger than what we ended up with at the end of last season and I’m certain it will do.”

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