'Wants to be here' - Chris Wilder hails Ben Brereton-Diaz as Sheffield United beat clubs to new signing
Sheffield United added a new signing on Friday and it’s a familiar face
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has hailed the arrival of Ben Brereton-Diaz after the forward’s signing for the third time at Bramall Lane.
United are believed to have beaten Derby County, where the Chile international played on loan last season, and hometown club Stoke City to secure Brereton-Diaz’s signature.
The 27-year-old arrived from Southampton on a season long loan and is understood to have personally chosen United, with the Saints having agreed a deal with all three clubs.
The Blades haven’t had a natural left-sided player since Gus Hamer left and the position has been one of the main priorities in this summer’s transfer market.
“I watched from afar last year in a structured team at Derby County that got to go into the last game of the season with a chance of getting in the play-off, so assists and goals as well,” Wilder said. “Predominantly off the left, of course, to replace Gus [Hamer]. I always thought it was going to be incredibly difficult to replace Gus with his goals and assists and it possibly would have took us about £15m to £20m to replace him.
“So to get him on loan, to beat off a lot of clubs and him knowing what I'm about and I'm knowing what he's about and in collaboration with the coaches as well that have worked with him to get him that over the line and give us a big boost going into tomorrow and the season.
“If he can assist and score, which we believe he can, to the extent of double figures, then I think that will end up being a decent signing for us.”
United could have looked in the market for a young player coming in on loan from a top Premier League club but Wilder felt that there is already enough inexperience in the squad and that an older head was needed.
“I believe we've got enough young players in the team,” he added. “As I said all along, I think we need the boys that know how to win a game of football in the Championship, whether it's ugly or whether it's the nice way that we want to play and creating scoring opportunities as well.
“And the characteristics, mentality to play for this club. Can he go out there when we're playing well and play well? Yeah, he can. And can he dig in when we're not playing well and he has to deal with adversity and disappointment when it's on top a little bit for us. And he has those qualities because I've worked with him and I know what his personality and character is like.
“So both ways, whatever he says regarding myself and the club, I know he really enjoyed it. And rightly so, to beat off permanent deals that he didn't really want to do, but he wanted to come to us. We couldn't do a permanent deal at this particular moment, as we know.”
Brereton Diaz was signed in time to make his third debut for the Blades against Cardiff City on Saturday.