Sheffield United: Chris Wilder reveals reasoning behind keeping a tight lid on Blades wage structure

Wilder, who could shortly be offered a new contract after leading United to promotion, recently admitted he is prepared to “walk away” from any proposed transfer deals if they do not adhere to the League One champions’ budget.

Confirming Kevin McCabe and fellow co-owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud have provided him with funds to strengthen his squad, Wilder said: “We’ll be competitive and we’ll be ambitious. But I don’t want somebody on ‘x’ and somebody else on ten times that.

“Players understand the bar gets raised if you progress. Then, it’s up to the others to catch up.

“Wages go up when you get promotion but we’ll do it sensibly, so this club is always here.”

Wilder, who is pressing ahead with his bid for Charlton Athletic’s Ricky Holmes, has signed Ched Evans, Enda Stevens and Nathan Thomas since guiding United back into the Championship.

Southend’s Ryan Leonard was also the subject of an approach last month. Millwall and Bolton Wanderers are also known to be monitoring the midfielder’s situation at Roots Hall where Phil Brown, Wilder’s opposite number, has outlined plans to reward his captain with a new contract.

“We’ve got a weekly budget and a transfer kitty,” Wilder said.

“We’re not ones to shout about how much we are paying or what that is. Our transfer kitty, we’ll keep that in-house. But we have got money to spend.

“I like to think Kevin trusts me to spend that wisely. As I have in the past and going forward.”