'There's a limit!" - Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder makes contract promise as talks continue ahead of Wednesday's Premier League return

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s visit to Aston Villa - the first Premier League match to be staged since the season was suspended in March - Wilder acknowledged he wants to keep “the group together” but would not sacrifice his club’s financial security in order to do so.

Only five points outside the Champions League places when competition ground to a half because of the Covid-19 pandemic, United awarded new deals to captain Billy Sharp, vice-captain Oliver Norwood and centre-forward David McGoldrick last week.

John Egan, Chris Basham and John Lundstram are also known to have been invited to the negotiating table earlier this term, as Wilder looks to keep the core of a team which has climbed to seventh in the table only a year after being promoted intact.

Confirming Manchester United have granted permission for Dean Henderson to remain in South Yorkshire until at least the end of the present campaign, Wilder said: “As I’ve mentioned, we put offers out there at the start and then they were paused, because I didn’t think it was right to be talking about new deals and improved financial situations when we were at that stage of the pandemic. But after we got the green light to return to playing, I felt it was appropriate to kickstart those talks.

“We left the offers out there and we’re in the negotiation phase. I’ve mentioned a lot of times that I have a responsibility to the football club. Yes, the players want the best deals for them and that’s understandable. But there is a limit to how far we’ll go and we’ll leave those offers out there.”

“Speaking to other managers in the Championship and what’s happening down there,” Wilder continued, “I’ve got a big responsibility to my football club to make sure we’re not in the state that some clubs are in at the minute. I’m involved in everything, I’m hands-on and I’m involved in the negotiations.

“We’re hopeful. But if players don’t re-sign, then we’ll do the right thing by the football club.”

Despite fears Manchester United could summon the on-loan Henderson back to Old Trafford before United complete their remaining 10 top-flight matches, Wilder also used his media briefing to announce Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has - as expected - granted permission for the goalkeeper to stay put until August at least.

Wilder, who wants to retain Henderson’s services next season as well, said: “We’ve had initial conversations about that, and of course we would (if it’s possible). We would be open to Dean coming back but I’ve got huge respect for Manchester United and he’s a Manchester United player, so they’ll make that decision with what’s best for themselves in conjunction with Dean. But if there’s an opportunity, we’d love to take that up.”

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