Sheffield United: Legend Brian Deane outlines what he thinks Chris Wilder's Blades need to succeed in Premier League

Deane, a veteran of United’s promotion to the top flight in 1990, was a teammate of Wilder during their time together in South Yorkshire and established himself as one of the club’s best-ever strikers over three spells at Bramall Lane.

And after United pipped another of his former clubs, Leeds, to automatic promotion to the Premier League, Deane told S24SU: “Chris is a progressive manager. If he can maintain the type of football and improve the squad, then I think they’ve got a good chance of staying up.

“It’s not going to be easy, weaknesses can get exploited very quickly in the Premier League. But if you take that way of playing, that formation and keep developing the defensive side of it going forward, they can definitely stay up. I wouldn’t change the squad too much.”

West Brom striker Jay Rodriguez, who is reported to be available for as little as £5m initially because of a clause in his contract, is the latest name to have been linked with a move to United while Neal Maupay and Oliver McBurnie, of Brentford and Swansea City respectively, are also on Wilder’s Bramall Lane wishlist.

“You have to be realistic, and not gamble with the money you get for going up but use it to strengthen the squad,” Deane added.

“You have to look at it as a long term project and not a win or bust type scenario next year. You have to have more quality up front, in the middle of the park and another dominant centre-back of Premier League quality.

“If you do that and give the rest of the players a chance, with the way that Chris man-manages they have a fantastic opportunity. For me, if I was going to the Premier League with that team having played there and been comfortable, I’d think we haven’t got anything to lose.

“They have to be realistic, but why not? Look to develop as individuals and as a team.”