Sheffield United have already made January transfer stance clear with more Sydie Peck interest expected
Sheffield United have already made their January transfer position clear, with Sydie Peck among the players who could attract renewed interest when the window opens...
Sheffield United managed to fend off transfer interest in Sydie Peck over the summer - but the England U21 international’s remarkable hat-trick at Preston earlier this week will only have enhanced his growing reputation ahead of the January transfer window.
Peck was already seen as one of the most promising young midfielders in the Championship but even more clubs will have sat up and took notice of him after his first-half treble at Deepdale, which helped United record back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
The second goal especially showed what he has in the locker, making a clever third-man run and then showing the composure not to panic under pressure from Daniel Iversen before rocketing a shot into his top corner.
A number of clubs were already known to have Peck on their radar, including United’s Championship rivals West Ham United, and United’s financial position has led to fears amongst supporters that Peck may be the next out of the door when the January sales begin.
But a tough summer which saw United forced to sell Andre Brooks, Callum O’Hare and Gus Hamer to comply with squad cost ratio rules has reset the clock somewhat at Bramall Lane, with no immediate pressure to offload key assets in January.
That isn’t to say that none will be sold - every player has his price, after all - but the noises coming out of Bramall Lane are of a sounder financial footing. Boss Chris Wilder has made his stance clear, with his desire to build a team around the likes of Peck for the long-term no secret.
Speaking to The Star last month in a sit-down interview at Bramall Lane, United chief executive Stephen Bettis said: “There’s no requirement for us to sell players in January.
“We are complying [with SCR] and we are sticking to the rules, which is the most important thing. The work in the summer wasn’t a decision, it had to be done. It wasn't a choice; we had to do it.”
What could also be interesting is the approach United’s owners take to January recruitment if the Blades’ upward momentum continues into the new year. Bettis previously admitted he couldn’t see huge sums of money being spent in a window that is usually more short-term.
“We've got one loan spot available still and if anything really interesting comes up, I think there would be a conversation about it,” Bettis said. “Being mindful of what that looked like from an SCR perspective as well. It may not be what supporters want to hear, but I'd rather tell you the truth.
“And that is that I don't see us writing big cheques for players in January. But we’re under no pressure to sell either. And there is a little bit of headroom now.
“So I think if we really see a change in performances, where we are getting up there, I definitely think there would be discussions.”