Sheffield United braced for familiar Sydie Peck transfer dilemma as West Ham United join queue amid £80m uncertainty
Sheffield United hold the cards when it comes to Sydie Peck's future, but growing interest from a host of clubs could leave Chris Wilder's side with a major decision to make this summer.
Sheffield United could be given a big decision to make this summer in the transfer market after another club joined the queue of confirmed admirers of the Blades’ young midfielder, Sydie Peck. The former Arsenal youngster has come of age in the United midfield over the last two seasons.
His five goals last season saw him shortlisted for the Championship’s young player of the year award, despite a poor start in which he was hung out to dry as essentially United’s only midfielder in Ruben Selles’ chaotic system.
The England under-21 international’s form improved after the return of Chris Wilder in September, with his progress since coming into the United team not going unnoticed elsewhere. Nottingham Forest are confirmed admirers while Brentford have also been linked, with a number of connections between the Blades and the Bees.
But the most concrete interest so far may come from across the capital, in the shape of United’s new Championship rivals West Ham United. They are in the market for midfield reinforcements after being relegated from the Premier League.
The Hammers could sell Portuguese international Mateus Fernandes this summer, although they are said to value him at £80m, and The Athletic reported today that they have been scouting Londoner Peck since January.
Peck is under contract at Bramall Lane until at least 2028 - with the Blades’ recent policy to insert options into the deals of their young stars - and as such United should be in a good position to maximise the value of their asset.
There remains a reality that players may leave this summer if their valuations are met, especially with recently-introduced financial rules further squeezing United. But boss Wilder has warned the vultures that the Blades will not be a soft touch in the transfer market, and the hope is that those above him are on the same page.
West Ham have recruited well from the Football League in recent years, with Jarrod Bowen from Hull their biggest success story, and are seemingly looking at that market again as they prepare for life back in the second tier.
“It’s a very hard competition, very demanding,” boss Nuno Espírito Santo said recently of the Championship. “We have 46 games, probably even more. The cycles of the weeks are different but there are things that don’t change. Commitment, be resilient, disciplined, brave. We need a lot of character.
“These are the fundamental pillars that I believe that every team should have. The commitment, the respect, the ambition, the character, the discipline, the belief, the togetherness, the unity. All these things that we’ve been having here at the club, we must do it better.”
Peck’s character and attitude is likely to have caught the eye of West Ham’s scouts as much as his ability. Still 21 until September, he has impressed coaching staff with his composure and bravery on the ball, even when things are perhaps not going his or United’s way, and is seen as an emerging leader in the United set-up. For how much longer remains to be seen.
Speaking earlier this summer, Wilder said on reports that United have to sell Peck and Gus Hamer in the upcoming transfer window: “If we have to sell a player or two, then we will do. As long as we don't give them away. That's my take on it.
“If we have to raise money, we have to raise money. The owners put a lot of money into buying the football club. And they put a lot of money in in terms of the investment at the start of the season as well.
“And if that's the case, that's the case. I'm OK with that but we can't develop these players and just let them go for nothing. We can't buy players and let them go cheaply, or not at the right price for us.
“But the majority of clubs in this division are at the stage where we have to recuperate. You've all seen the numbers, , you've all seen how difficult it is in the Championship with the salary cost management or whatever the letters stand for.
“So, I work in tandem with [chief executive] Steve Bettis and work in tandem with the owners to do what's right for the football club in the short, medium and long term. But, we're hopeful that we keep the majority of our players. But if we have to sell and the price is right, we'll do that and carry on from that point.”