Chris Wilder signals Sheffield United transfer optimism as Blades’ fresh blood search enters crucial phase
Chris Wilder signals Sheffield United transfer optimism as Blades’ fresh blood search enters crucial phase
Sheffield United’s incoming transfer business will “ramp up” after this weekend’s clash with Ipswich Town, manager Chris Wilder expects, as the January window approaches its final straight. The Blades have so far only managed to add Wolves loanee Ki-Jana Hoever to their group in the first three weeks.
But it has not been for the lack of trying, with United’s recruitment staff drawing up a list of targets well in advance of the window opening with the hope that they could move quickly. That happened in the case of Hoever, but their progress has been stifled since.
Midfield and the wing remain areas of priority while the loss of Ben Godfrey early in the window, and Nils Zatterstrom’s impending move to Serie A on loan, could see another centre-half arrive at Bramall Lane before the February 2 deadline.
Wilder had previously expected more movement after FA Cup third round weekend earlier this month but that didn’t come to pass and speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Bramall Lane return against Ipswich Town, he was asked if there had been any progress on the incoming front since Wednesday night’s defeat at Southampton.
“No, not really,” he admitted. “I think things will will ramp up after this weekend. I thought it possibly would do last weekend, but it hasn't. I don't dictate and drive the market. We're after some good players to bring into the group.
Chris Wilder signals Sheffield United transfer optimism as Blades’ fresh blood search enters crucial phase
“It’s the same thing, quality over quantity, players going out. There's been some movement [on outgoings] and that will happen on possibly three, four of the players. I should imagine there'll be a couple of us going out as well in the week.
“And then we’ll get a couple of players back from suspension and Tyler Bindon from his situation as well. But in the meantime, we've got to try and address the situation on Saturday against, for me, a top side in the division.
“It’s a fixture that I’d have liked to have been in and around the top against in and aroound the top but that wasn’t the situation and we have to deal with that. I still feel from my point of view that we're showing decent form.
“I still believe, as I’ve said, that we deserve a little bit of luck in terms of the way we're playing. So we're going to have to work harder to get that bit of luck, as is always the case. I think from the data point of view, since we've come in, we would have been eighth.
“We should have more points than that. And I know every manager says that, but I don't think we've been absolutely blitzed by anybody. There have been some disappointing results and performances in the time that we've been here, which I imagined would happen.
“I've not liked and not enjoyed them. But certainly both games against Southampton deserved more. Both games against Charlton deserved more. I think we're eight points light. And if you stick eight points onto our total, that puts us in fourth, fifth and sixth place. And that's off the back of a horrific start and a horrific pre-season.”