Chris Wilder addresses Sydie Peck transfer speculation after Sheffield United man linked with Premier League pair
Chris Wilder addresses Sydie Peck transfer speculation after Sheffield United man linked with Premier League pair
Chris Wilder has stated his desire to see Sydie Peck remain a Sheffield United player for the foreseeable future - despite admitting that a decision may be taken out of his hands if the right offer was to arrive. The former Arsenal youngster has caught the eye since coming into the Blades midfield last season.
His progress has not gone unnoticed elsewhere, with international recognition with England U21s also prompting admiring glances from elsewhere. Reports this week have suggested that Premier League sides Brentford and West Ham are keeping an eye on the 21-year-old’s progress.
United moved to protect themselves over Peck’s future by tying him down to a new four-year deal last season, with the Londoner making a home for himself in South Yorkshire after making the move north at just 16 years old.
“One hundred per cent,” Wilder agreed. “He’s got personality and he’s got character. He enjoys playing for the club, I enjoy working with him and our supporters enjoy him wearing a red and white shirt.”
Peck will not be available for United this weekend as they take on Birmingham City after picking up a calf injury and his importance to this United side has only been underlined by his absence, with the Blades struggling to establish control in the middle of the park in Friday’s defeat at West Brom.
Chris Wilder addresses Sydie Peck transfer speculation after Sheffield United man linked with Premier League pair
“I want to keep and build,” Wilder added, when asked about the interest. “It’s hard to build. I’ve talked about it before, it’s hard to win and it’s hard to build as well. You don't just turn it on and off like a lightswitch.
“There are lots of things that go into it, and you want to keep your best players. That’s always knowing understanding club finances and players’ ambition as well. You've got to factor that in. So if somebody comes in for one of our players and the deal absolutely changes his life, from the stature of a football club or financial aspects for the club and the player, it has to be discussed.
“But Syd has got his head down. He’s been great, and we want to keep our best players because we want to challenge to get out of this division. We challenged last season and that's got to be our aim.
“We're one of the top 25 clubs in this country for a while now, when we’ve been in the Premier League or in the top five of the Championship. So we're a top 25 club and our ambitions have always been to be a top 20 club. And to do that, keeping our best players is key.”
Ben Mee will also miss out against Chris Davies’ side as he recovers from hand surgery while Peck will not be rushed back despite United’s lack of other midfield options. “I said to Sydie this week, it's amazing how good a player you are when you're not in the team,” Wilder added.
“So I think that just shows you what contribution he makes to the team and all the comments I've made about him over my time managing him. But I’ve got to pick the right team and the lucky ones are the ones that get the opportunity to put it right.
“They're progressing nicely. There are a lot of games coming up as well. Ben's obviously a different one to Sydie and we’ve got to have a scan next week to see how his hand is healing. And when we see significant signs of improvement in that, then he'll be available.
“But he can do everything on the training ground apart from physical contact. And Sydie is one that, yet again, we're going to have to be careful with, because I don't want to rush him back. I'd love him to be in the side and be in the team.
“But I can't rush him back because he's very vital to the Christmas period, the festive season. All the games coming up in and around the Christmas and New Year. And to rush him back and to lose him ... it really frustrates me when we do that. So we have to be careful and pick the right time.”