Sheffield United manager issues an important update about contracts as decision regarding on-loan duo looms

Wilder, who recently saw captain Billy Sharp, Oliver Norwood and David McGoldrick sign new agreements, described the proposals tabled as a “reward” for performances following United’s promotion from the Championship last season.

Although he declined to name the individuals concerned, John Lundstram, John Egan and Chris Basham are understood to have held talks with representatives of Bramall Lane’s board in recent months.

“We have spoken to them and their agents,” Wilder said, “Our offers have been left with them and it’s up to those players, if they want, to take up the reward of what we’ve offered them. Because that’s what it is - a reward.

“It’s a reward for their efforts so far and we want to keep them at the football club.

“We’ll leave them (the offers) out there and see what response we get from the players and most importantly their agents, which seems to be the way of the world these days.”

United returned to action on Wednesday following a three month break, when they travelled to Aston Villa for the first game staged in this country since competition was suspended in March because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The fixture ended in a controversial stalemate when goal line technology failed to spot a Norwood free-kick had been carried into the back of the net by Villa’s Orjan Nyland and the VAR officials elected not to intervene. The result meant United finished the evening in sixth, with nine matches left to play.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s visit to St James’ Park, Wilder also confirmed he expects to clarify the positions of on-loan duo Panos Retsos and Richairo Zivkovic within the next “24 to 48 hours” after The Star reported United have invited them to remain in South Yorkshire until the end of the campaign despite deciding against triggering their buy-out clauses.

Mo Besic returned to Everton when his temporary agreement expired last month, and the financial uncertainty caused by coronavirus has persuaded United to inform Bayer Leverkusen defender Retsos and Zivkovic, the Changchun Yatai striker, that they will not automatically be offered permanent deals.

“I’ve no issue,” Wilder said. “We’ve had a couple of loan players who won’t re-sign. They don’t want to put themselves in that position, because of lack of opportunities.

“But all of our main players, all of the main actors, we are okay with. Whenever we step out onto the pitch, we need everyone pulling in the same direction. We can’t have people breaking the chain. I said all along I would respect the decision of people involved and I will.”

“I should imagine we’ll be making a statement regarding Panos and Richairo within the next 24 to 48 hours or so,” Wilder added. “We’ll make that decision in conjunction with the players and then make an announcement about it.”

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