Sheffield United issue important financial pledge

Chief executive Steve Bettis made the commitment as discussions with four members of Chris Wilder’s side, including midfielder John Lundstram, prepare to resume following last month’s recruitment drive.

Although United have broken their transfer record on five occasions during the past two transfer windows, Bramall Lane’s hierarchy remain determined to keep a tight grip on finances. Although owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud recently improved Wilder’s budget to facilitate the arrival of Sander Berge in a £22m deal from Genk, United do not operate the ‘benefactor’ model employed by many of their top-flight rivals, with the majority of their funding generated by PL rights issues, merit payments and internal commercial projects.

“We've got a wage structure for the first team and we work really hard to make sure we don't mess with that because that brings disharmony within the team,” Bettis said. “Everything we're doing is to make sure that stays in place.”

United are understood to have made preliminary offers to Lundstram, John Egan and Enda Stevens before Christmas, although negotiations were placed on hold as Wilder oversaw the arrivals of Berge, Jack Rodwell, Jack Robinson, Panos Retsos and Richairo Zivkovic before travelling to Dubai for a warm weather training camp.

The players have now returned to England to finalise their preparations for this weekend’s visit of Brighton and Hove Albion, which could see them finish the latest round of PL fixtures in fourth place. United were languishing in the third tier of English football when Wilder was appointed in 2016, and four of those who could start against Albion featured during his first match in charge.

One of those, John Fleck, has also been informed that United plan to improve his terms and conditions.

Noting how Wilder’s policy of rewarding performances has enabled him to establish a coherent development strategy, Bettis said: “We underrated everything that's happened with the players who have come from League One on the journey with us.

“Not only do we appreciate their loyalty, we haven't ever lost a player that I can remember whilst Chris and I have been here that's been with us on that journey and still been part of our first team.

“We've gone to them first, offered them improved contracts that have kept them happy and at the market rate.”