The important and potentially future-defining trend emerging at Sheffield United

News the midfielder had signed a deal which should ensure he remains in South Yorkshire until at least 2023 came less than 48 hours after Wilder, the United manager, revealed he had elicited a commitment from owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to do everything “he possibly can” to help the club build upon its remarkable progress this term.

Having masterminded two promotion winning campaigns since being appointed four years ago, Wilder’s squad finished the latest round of top-flight fixtures seventh in the table; only four points outside the Champions League places.

But rather than rest upon their laurels, United’s hierarchy discussed ways of ensuring recent results prove the catalyst for a prolonged period of success during a recent meeting in Dubai; where Wilder’s squad, Fleck included, based themselves for the first half of the competition’s recent winter break.

“I should imagine the owners know the importance (of driving the club forward),” Wilder said. “There was a long meeting, during the trip abroad, between the owners, myself, the chief executive and the head of operations.

“They will give me as much as they possibly can to help me improve the team. I think they have done.”

Although the purchase of Sander Berge for a £22m fee last month has been highlighted as the most obvious indication of United’s ambition, convincing Fleck his interests are best served by staying put rather than exploring opportunities likely to present themselves elsewhere is arguably a more significant development. Particularly, given he will turn 29 in August, that the Scotland international’s earning potential is likely to have diminished by the time his latest contract expires.

With West Ham and Arsenal among those reportedly monitoring his performances of late, both United and the player’s representative will have been aware of the riches potentially on offer elsewhere. Particularly, if Scotland reach this summer’s European Championships and Fleck goes on to impress during the tournament.

But United, doubtless reminding that his career has been on an upward trajectory ever since arriving from Coventry City in the summer of 2016, were clearly viewed as the best option by Fleck’s negotiating team.

The statement confirming he had put pen to paper on an improved and extended deal, released a quarter-of-an-hour before Saturday’s meeting with Brighton and Hove Albion, continues what has become a pattern under Wilder’s stewardship. Once used to seeing their best players lured away, United now expect, in the majority of cases, to retain them. Fleck’s commitment is bound to make an impression on John Lundstram, Enda Stevens and John Egan, who have all been holding talks with chief executive Steve Bettis and Prince Abdullah’s board of directors in recent weeks.

Although Wilder accepts United still lack the financial muscle possessed by their rivals towards the top of the rankings - and most of those below them in the division as well - he is of the belief they can offer a number of other attractive benefits.

They include a profile - having only climbed out of the Championship 10 months ago, United are one of the most talked about sides in the PL at present - and an excellent working environment. Coupled with the fact Sheffield can lay claim to being the cradle of the game as we know it today, being home to the world’s oldest club, oldest ground and first ever cup, both United themselves and the city as a whole should, with a little joined up thinking, be able to identify a number of lucrative commercial opportunities. At home and abroad, with Prince Abdullah’s homeland Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East looking to expand its interests in English football.

Of course, results will always be the barometer by which teams should be judged. Hence Wilder’s repeated warnings about the danger of complacency.

“We work hard here,” Wilder said before Christmas. “Very hard in fact. But we want people to enjoy themselves as well. The lads in the dressing room are a really tight knit bunch.”