Chris Wilder addresses latest Harry Souttar bid as Sheffield United transfer hope lives on

Chris Wilder was non-commital about the chances of Harry Souttar signing for Sheffield United after the Blades put in an improved bid for the Leicester City man. United’s initial offer was rejected.

The impending sale of Gus Hamer to Coventry City had raised hopes that United would automatically pay the £10m asking price for Souttar that City were initially asking for but, as we reported last night when breaking the news of a bid being accepted for Hamer, that is not understood to be the case.

United still have to box clever in the market this summer as they manage a shortfall caused by the loss of parachute payments, which the sales of Hamer and Andre Brooks will at least partially cover.

And while another bid for Souttar is positive news, the potential deal is still in the balance ahead of Saturday’s Championship season opener at home to Birmingham City.

Speaking after today’s 3-0 win over Mansfield Town in the EFL Cup, Wilder declined to mention Souttar by name but said: “We put a bid in for a player. So, that's positive.

“And I think we've got to understand, it's a different landscape for the football club now. It's the first year without parachute payments as well. So, that makes a big difference and we have to cut our cloth accordingly, and we have to be smart. It's a difficult one because we've missed out on some decent free transfers.

“So, that's disappointing. But we have to move on and that's part and parcel of the job. We have to accept that and try and get the best out of what we can do.”

Asked if he was confident that the player United had bid for would sign, Wilder said: “You never know.We have backups all the time. But we have to have good players that come in. We've got good players at the football club and I don't just want to go safe on a player that might be OK.

“We want two players that hopefully can start in the team to take us to the position we are in. It's an extremely competitive league. Teams all over the place, as you've seen, what's happening.

“Parachute payments and clubs selling players for big money. There's a club that's having a go and rightly so, but they brought in big money for a couple of players. So, that's the way it is. I'm happy with the group, but I'm always trying to improve it. I think we’re two or three players off being really, really competitive.

“I think we will be competitive in what I've seen so far this season. But to take that next step, then hopefully we can do the business that we do. But we have to be patient with it.”