Sheffield United Q&A: Prince Abdullah return, shirts, Harry Souttar transfer latest, Ryan One, missing players, owner interviews and more
Part two of our Sheffield United Q&A covers a potential return for Prince Abdullah, owner communication, transfers, Harry Souttar chances, Ryan One, missing players and more...
Part one of our latest Sheffield United Q&A was published yesterday and with so many talking points surrounding the Blades at the minute, we had to do a second instalment.
This one covers a potential return for Prince Abdullah, owner communication, transfers, Harry Souttar chances, Ryan One, missing players and more.
Thanks as ever for your questions and stay tuned for further Q&A opportunities as the summer fun continues...
Spam United: 1. Any news on whether the prince actually WANTS equity or whether he just wants his money 2. Bit of a personal one, does the club plan to make available any adult shirts without the gambling sponsor on, as per last year? I used to work with addicts you see.
My understanding is that the Prince doesn’t want equity back in United. There was a discussion along those lines early in COH’s reign but after recent developments it’s virtually impossible to imagine both sides partnering up together.
The Prince was also vocal about the stress that owning United took on him and his family and in the 18 months or so since he sold up, things have got harder rather than easier. I hear there was an offer of equity rather in lieu of payment and if that was a realistic option then the winding-up petition wouldn’t have got this far.
On the shirts – yes, I understand there will be an option to buy them without the sponsor on. Kids shirts aren’t allowed to have betting logos on anyway and a stipulation of gambling sponsorship regulation is that sponsor-less shirts must be made available. And United have always been compliant on that front.
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Chimpan-A: Please ask CW to explain what has changed since his usual end of season “we already have our targets in mind” promise and now?
Nothing, really. There’s an obvious difference between having targets in mind and actually landing them. Lewis Dobbin was one example; long identified as a player who would fit the bill, but United could only propose a loan and Villa didn’t want that.
That’s their prerogative, as he’s their player, and United had to watch on helplessly as Southampton stumped up a lot of cash to take him south instead of him going north.
David Oxley: What’s happening with Philips, Harry Souttar. Are we looking at offering Gus a new deal?
It’s a similar situation with Souttar. I’ve no doubt that most Unitedites would carry him back to Bramall Lane if the chance arose – or at least some of the way, as he’s a hefty unit.
But my information from the Midlands is that Souttar is a player Leicester have identified as a potential chance to raise some cash after relegation to League One, which more than likely rules out United unless something drastically changes.
Phillips is an interesting one. There was an expectation that would get done early on. United were keen, Phillips was keen and you can imagine City would be keen too, with two years left on his lucrative deal. Getting him in for the start of pre-season would have been huge too given his fitness issues in recent years.
Boss Wilder said earlier this month that talks were still ongoing with City but the return of Jairo Riedewald – originally released with half an eye on bringing in Phillips – was another interesting subplot…
Joe: Is the plan for One to be featured significantly around the first team this season
That’s the plan, but ultimately it’s up to Ryan. There’s been talk about his future this week, with Leicester and Rangers linked. Our information is that that was agent talk and there’ll certainly be a chance for him. Whether he takes it or not is in his hands.
If he does, then it could be very watchable. His physical profile is remarkable for a 20-year-old. He is still just so raw and if United can polish some of his rough edges, they’ll have a hell of a player on their hands.
Stephen Hall: Can we make actual signings that involve a fee as things stand?
I wouldn’t say that cash buys have been entirely ruled out but I have heard that the focus is on frees and loans currently.
FS: Is Burrows in Wilder’s plans for the season?
Absolutely. He’s been linked with a move away but that battle down the left, with Burrows and McCallum, is exactly the sort of headache and competition Wilder wants all over the squad.
On their day either is capable of performing well in the Championship and when they aren’t at their best, you can swap like-for-like and expect not too much of a drop-off in quality.
MarkG: What is Phil Jones adding that was missing previously?
I spoke to Japhet Tanganga about this last week and the biggest thing he talked about was Jones’ experience. That’s no slight on any other United coach, past or present, but there’s very little Jones hasn’t seen during his time with Man United and England, both good and bad, and he’s had some interesting times as a coach as well.
As Tanganga said the likes of him and Jamal Baptiste would be “fools” not to learn from a player who reached the very top like Jones did, especially considering the struggles he subsequently went through with injury and the likes.
He’s also very hands-on with United’s defenders and it’s no secret that is an area of the pitch they are looking to really improve on from last season, when they conceded so many avoidable goals and essentially shot themselves in the foot far too often for their own good. Time will tell but on the limited evidence so far it seems like a good fit.
Jarni: Where are Grbic and RND? Any new stadium upgrades gone off during pre-season
Both are surplus to requirements and so the understanding is that they haven’t featured while the search for a new club goes on, but we’ll ask Chris Wilder the next time we speak to him.
There’s been a few stadium upgrades, most notably an extensive refurbishment of the superstore at the stadium. Work has been ongoing over the summer to maintain the Lane, too, with the usual close-season maintenance on the pitch and an overhaul of the south stand toilets. It’s not stuff that will make headlines but it’s important.
Anton Werdek: When will the owners give an interview?
Based on both words and actions, never. It’s their prerogative, of course, but personally I think it hints at a bit of disrespect towards the supporters of the club that they are mere custodians of. The statement this week was at least a bit more wholesome than their initial one, which for me bordered on insulting, after the winding-up petition was issued.
No-one is asking for weekly updates. But for fans to still be in the dark about the future of their club, 18 months after it changed hands, is remarkable, and dodging scrutiny on it does little to raise confidence levels.