Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder discussed transfers and preseason preparation in his press conference today.
The Blades had their relegation from the Premier League confirmed last Saturday, but still have three games left to go.
Wilder feels the club must begin preparing for next season now, and says they are already looking into transfer targets and current players who may be offloaded.
“I’m getting on with it now. I’m meeting players I’m speaking to agents, we’re heavily in discussions with targets and speaking to players who might not be on the next part of the journey here. There’s players that are out of contract and players that are in contract that may not be part of that journey.”
Wilder also said he has ‘great clarity’ over how he will approach the team’s performances in the last few games.
“If players start to turn up with four, five games left to go, I’m saying ‘Where were you for the last 25 games?’ if I’m totally honest about that. It’s quite a harsh way of looking at it, but I think it’s honest and correct. Sometimes I’m too honest and open about views, but I think this is an honest, down to earth football club.”
United play Nottingham Forest tomorrow, who are fighting to avoid relegation themselves.
Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White spent a season on loan at Bramall Lane in 2021/22 where he gathered 9 goals and 11 assists in their promotion campaign.
Wilder said: “We obviously know Morgan [Gibbs White] very well, he had an outstanding long period here. They have some good players at the top of the pitch and he is one of them.”
Many young players have come through the academy this season, such as 20 year old Oli Arblaster who has been given the captain’s armband the last two games.
Wilder said he is proud of the young players the club have included this campaign, and is keen to include more academy players in and around the first team squad for United’s last three games.
“There might be a couple of young players that come into the situation and into the group so that will be good experience for them to know what a first team matchday looks like. But there won’t be wholesale changes or gambles to try out different bits and pieces because we need to get results.”
The Blades’ boss also spoke about the Premier League spending cap and how clubs must find a ‘sweet spot’ financially when bringing in players. Read more here: