The key box Sheffield United will demand their next manager can tick

Nearly seven weeks after parting company with the 53-year-old following a series of disagreements and transfer and recruitment strategy, United have still yet to confirm the identity of his permanent replacement despite identifying several potential options.

Although no official talks have taken place, officials at Bramall Lane are known to have identified Oostende’s head coach Alexander Blessin as a person of interest despite concerns he would fail to qualify for a work permit. The German, who previously worked on RB Leipzig’s youth development programme, employs a similar approach to the one Wilder used to deliver two promotions in three seasons before his relationship with some board members became untenable.

Paul Heckingbottom who is expected to remain at the helm on an interim basis until the end of the campaign, has refused to tear-up a tactical template which also helped United finish ninth in the top-flight last term until injuries, a loss of confidence and social distancing restrictions imposed because of the Covid-19 pandemic all contributed to their relegation earlier this month.

“We’ve got a group that’s set up to play a certain way, and that’s happened over a period of time,” Heckingbottom said. “So it makes sense to work within that.”

With United bracing themselves for the loss of the PL’s lucrative broadcasting payments - although an enhanced parachute package should soften the blow - senior figures behind the scenes are keen to avoid a costly and potentially disruptive summer in the transfer market ahead of the new Championship season. With no natural wide players on the books, and both Sander Berge and John Lundstram expected to depart shortly, they would prefer to focus on making surgical improvements rather than overseeing a wholesale makeover.

Having secured their first victory under Heckingbottom by beating Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend, United return to action when they visit Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.