Sheffield United close to multiple transfer moves, including £1m man, as Chris Wilder gets one January window wish
Sheffield United close to multiple transfer moves, including £1m man, as Chris Wilder gets one January window wish
Sheffield United are closing in on a quadruple transfer exit as Chris Wilder edges closer to getting his wish in trimming down his Blades squad. United are still looking to add to their squad ahead of February 2’s transfer deadline.
But another of Wilder’s priorities was moving out some players in this window to reduce the numbers at his disposal, with youngsters Louie Marsh and Sam Curtis beginning the exodus at the beginning of the month.
Striker Ryan One is still expected to depart ahead of the deadline on loan, with most of Leagues One and Two interested in signing the Scottish youth international for the rest of the season. As we revealed earlier this month Alex Matos is free to leave the Lane along with the rest of United’s remaining data-led signings.
The most accomplished of them, Swedish international Nils Zatterstrom, is closing in on a move to Serie A strugglers Genoa while Ehije Ukaki, the only one of the wildcard signings to actually play a senior game of football for United, is set for Greece with Super League side Atromitos.
Matos is also the subject of interest from elsewhere in Europe while Nigerian Christian Nwachukwu could also leave ahead of the deadline to further trim down the numbers on United’s books.
Sheffield United close to multiple transfer moves, including £1m man, as Chris Wilder gets one January window wish
Asked about Zatterstrom’s switch, with the Swede having touched down in Italy to begin the final touches, Wilder admitted: “That’s ongoing. And we need to see him play. For me, Nils is somebody that we don't think is ready for us at the moment.
“That's my opinion. We have two centre-halves who have done particularly well, in Japh [Tanganga] and Tyler Bindon. We’ve got Ben [Mee] underneath that and Mark McGuinness as well. So, his pathway is blocked. Now one will open up for him and it'll be interesting to see how he does.”
On Matos, who is understood to have cost United around £1m in the summer when he arrived from Chelsea, Wilder added: “There’s been interest in Alex. I think he realises as well that he needs to go out and play.
“He’s not part of our short-term plans to go and win games of football and climb the table. Alex knows that, and he’s understood that. He needs to go, and wants to go and play football.
“He knows that with Soumare, Riedewald, Blaster coming back and Sydie Peck as well, his pathway is blocked. So, I imagine there'll be some movement with Alex this week.
“And if not, he'll be involved with us at the weekend and in and around it. His attitude has been absolutely first-class, which I would expect. And that gives him an opportunity of carving a career out for himself.”