Sheffield United: Potential complication surrounding one possible bid emerges as Blades boss makes recruitment pledge

Chris Wilder has warned he will not be held to ransom in this summer's transfer market despite admitting Sheffield United must strengthen ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Chris Wilder: Simon Bellis/SportimageChris Wilder: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Chris Wilder: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

Together with his assistant Alan Knill and head of recruitment Paul Mitchell, the United manager has identified as number of potential targets with Swansea City's Oli McBurnie and Neal Maupay of Brentford among those known to boast admirers at Bramall Lane.

Although Wilder expects his employers to santion a number of club record bids, surpassing the £4m they paid to sign James Beattie over a decade ago, he reassured them he is ready to walk away from any deal he suspects does not deliver "value for money".

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"We know the type of player we want, what they're worth and what you might be required to pay overall," Wilder said. "We're not daft, we've done our homework.

"We've got a way of working here, though, a way of doing things we believe is successful and we are going to stick to that. It would be a mistake to change now.

"One part of that is not just writing cheques to get the business done. Yes, we know we're going into a different world now, a totally different level. But we don't want people who are all about the money and nothing else. Who are only interested in seeing what they can get out of a club rather than actually wanting to play for it."

With McBurnie and Maupay expected to attract widespread interest before August's transfer deadline, Wilder accepts United are likely to be drawn into a bidding war if they submit concrete bids. Both would cost way more than the £3.9m it is thought to have initially taken to prise John Egan away from Griffin Park last summer, although his total fee is now likely to have risen following United's promotion from the Championship.

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Middlesbrough's Britt Assombalonga has also been linked with United, although his potential involvement in the African Cup of Nations could complicate a move. The centre-forward has been named in the Demoncratic Republic of Congo's provisional squad for next month's tournament in Egypt with the final set to take place on July 19; three days after United play what is expected to be their second friendly of pre-season at Burton Albion following a training camp in Portugal.

United are expected to meet European opposition during their stay in the Algarve.