Greece international Panos Retsos wants to stay with Sheffield United

Explaining how Chris Wilder’s methods have instilled him with confidence following an injury hit spell in Germany, the Greek international wants to continue working for the 52-year-old next term despite making only one appearance since leaving the Bundesliga club.

“Yes, I would like to continue in England and Sheffield because he believes in me a lot,” Retsos said. “He has plan for me and it’s important to get games in my feet and get even better that I was.”

Retsos has spent three weeks training at the home he shares with his brother and agent in the city, after United’s squad were forced to temporarily vacate the Steelphalt Academy due to the coronavirus crisis.

Seventh in the Premier League table before the fixture calendar was suspended indefinitely, Retsos made his debut for Wilder’s side during the FA Cup win over Reading, which saw them set-up a quarter-final tie against Arsenal. That match has also yet to be played.

Speaking to the Sport24 network in his homeland, Retsos acknowledged the situation is challenging as he adapts to life in a new country.

Wilder told The Star that United entered a clause enabling them to sign the centre-half on a permanent basis when his tempoary deal expires in May. Retsos’ fellow loanee Richairo Zivkovic is subject to a similar agreement and, given the disruption Covid-19 has caused to schedules across the globe, United expect both Leverkusen and the striker’s parent club Changchun Yatai to extend that time frame until the present campaign is completed.

“I was very healthy at the beginning of last summer’s preparation (with Leverkusen) and I wanted to claim a place but the kids who were playing were playing pretty good,” Retsos, previously of Olympiakos, said. “Then I got to that level, after two or three months, and saw that I wasn’t going to be getting in as much as I’d like."

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