Sheffield United boss makes transfer window admission

Despite admitting his own recruitment budget has been trimmed as English football continues to wrestle with the after-effects of the global health crisis, Wilder does not believe the country’s other leading clubs are set to take similar action.

Despite losing their last two outings, United enter Sunday’s final game of the season at Southampton guaranteed a 10 top finish only 15 months since being promoted from the Championship.

“All windows are tough, there’s been a change of ownership here and so we understand all that,” Wilder said. “They’re all tough but I still believe they’ll be some huge transfers - I don’t think the top boys will stop spending.”

Chelsea, who were beaten by United earlier this month, have already lavished nearly £90m on Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner while Manchester City are reportedly negotiating a deal with AFC Bournemouth for Nathan Ake.

United’s new owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sanctioned the £22m purchase of Sander Berge from Genk in January but has since been required to buy properties, including Bramall Lane, the Steelphalt Academy training complex and former Copthorne Hotel from Kevin McCabe after winning last year’s High Court battle between the pair, which handed control to the Saudi Arabian.

“I look at the wealth and power of some of the top boys and I don’t think they’ll be any downturn there,” Wilder said. “We’ll continue to do what we have done in the past, and that’s work diligently and with care to bring the right lads in, who we feel we can improve and who we feel will improve us.”

"We've been able to do that in the past and it's something we'll be looking to do again in the future," Wilder added. "I'm confident the group we start next season with will be stronger than the one that went into this season."

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