'No one leaves the Lane' Sheffield United players are told as transfer deadline edges closer

Chris Wilder, the Sheffield United manager, has banned any member of his first team squad from leaving Bramall Lane before the end of the transfer window after confirming the Premier League club will not trade players in order to try and complete the loan signings he believes are necessary to save its season.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

After being told that room had been created on the budget for two temporary additions, Wilder is still waiting to discover if United will deliver the attacking midfielder and left sided centre-half he identified as priority positions before Christmas.

Jesse Lingard of Manchester United is known to feature on the list of targets coaching staff presented to Bramall Lane’s hierarchy last month. But, with the February 1st deadline fast approaching, United have yet to draft in any reinforcements for an injury hit squad.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, after being forced to name an under-strength bench for their last four top-flight games and the FA Cup victory over Bristol Rovers earlier this month, Wilder is adamant no one will be traded in order to try and push prospective deals across the line.

“We’ve done that in the past and been happy to,” he said, referring to the player plus cash arrangement United brokered with West Bromwich Albion which brought Oliver Burke to South Yorkshire over the summer. “But with the position we are in now, with the numbers we’ve got, I don’t think that’s realistic or possible now. We can’t do it.”

As The Star first revealed earlier this week, United, who face Plymouth Argyle in the fourth round tomorrow, have made a series of presentations to Lingard and his representatives in order to try and convince the 28-year-old to join a team 11 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table.

Those are understood to have been arranged by Wilder and members of his coaching staff, although Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham, Porto and Real Sociadad are now thought to be monitoring Lingard’s situation at Old Trafford.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

United will hand fitness tests to strikers Oli McBurnie and Lys Mousset ahead of their meeting with Argyle, with the winner set to face either Millwall or Bristol City.

Chris Wilder say Sheffield United can't afford to let anyone go during this transfer window. Andrew Yates/SportimageChris Wilder say Sheffield United can't afford to let anyone go during this transfer window. Andrew Yates/Sportimage
Chris Wilder say Sheffield United can't afford to let anyone go during this transfer window. Andrew Yates/Sportimage

SPECIAL OFFER: By subscribing to The Star’s sports-only digital package you help us to continue providing the best coverage of Sheffield United. Until February 1 there’s 20% off a year’s subscription, taking you through what is expected to be a busy transfer window. All the details are HERE, just use the promo code TRANSFER20.