Sheffield United draw up plans to cope without any new signings as deadline day approaches
and live on Freeview channel 276
Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard and Ben Davies, the Preston North End centre-half, appear destined to join West Ham and Celtic respectively before Monday’s deadline after negotiations with officials acting on Chris Wilder’s behalf failed to make progress.
Despite striking a diplomatic tone when questioned on United’s recruitment plans in recent weeks, the sight of Davies and Lingard, whose employers were stunned by Wilder’s side at Old Trafford last night, edging closer towards completing moves elsewhere will come as a major disappointment to the 53-year-old. Speaking after confirming that Bramall Lane’s hierarchy had granted permission for him to use the loan market to bolster the options at his disposal, Wilder made it clear the loss of influential performers such as Jack O’Connell, Sander Berge and Oli McBurnie meant reinforcements were necessary for United to stand a chance of avoiding relegation back to the Championship.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdGoals from Kean Bryan and Oliver Burke, either side of Harry Maguire’s equaliser, means they will prepare for this weekend’s game against Manchester City 10 points adrift of safety, with games against Chelsea and fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion also looming on the horizon.
“Hopefully we can build on this,” Wilder said, after watching goals from Kean Bryan and Oli Burke propel United to their first away win over Manchester United for nearly half a century. “We need to use it, as best we can.”
McBurnie could return to action at the Etihad Stadium after missing United’s last seven games with a shoulder problem. But Berge (hamstring) and O’Connell (knee) are unlikely to be declared available for selection until the end of March, with the latter recently suffering what Wilder described as a “set back” in his battle to recover from surgery.
Although United’s directors could yet sanction a foray into the market, with only four days remaining for top-flight clubs to complete their business it seems unlikely that any new faces will be unveiled. Wilder told the media that he was missing “nine” senior players for the visit to the North-West. John Egan sat out the fixture through suspension, while Ben Osborn also failed to travel after failing to shake-off a knock.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"We can’t let anyone go, can we,” Wilder said, after confirming Enda Stevens is another doubt for the meeting with Pep Guardiola’s side. “We can’t fill the bench so I don’t think it’s a good idea to lose people. Anyone asking that question has already answered it.”
Lingard, capped 24 times by England, had expressed an interest in working under Wilder after being impressed by the career development plan an intermediary presented to his agent before Christmas. However, he now seems destined to agree a temporary switch to West Ham. Davies, regarded as the ideal replacement for O’Connell, has met with representatives from Parkhead to discuss a pre-contract arrangement after refusing to extend his deal at Deepdale. The defender is set to become a free agent this summer.