Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has hinted that he is looking to add to his squad this month as he continues to mount a serious bid for promotion back to the Premier League.
The Blades enjoyed an excellent first half of the season, wiping out a two-point deduction to top the Championship table at Christmas. However, the festive schedule was a tough time for the Yorkshire-based outfit.
Wilder saw his team lose 2-0 to promotion rivals Burnley on Boxing Day, and they followed that up with a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion three days later. Their misery was compounded on New Year’s Day with defeat at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland, which has seen them slip to third in the table.
Wilder Hints At ‘Quality’ Additions
With the January transfer window now open, speculation has already begun as to who will arrive through the door at Bramall Lane this month. There have been strong links to Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury as the manager looks to solve an injury crisis in the middle of the park.
Asked about potential arrivals prior to tomorrow’s trip to Watford, Wilder refused to give too much away, although admitted the fans will be happy should they be successful in the pursuit of their targets. Speaking to The Sheffield Star, the 57-year-old said:
“Every player we bring in, we want to improve the group. You can get caught up in all that, we just want to sign good players who will improve us, position-specific. The chemistry and the personality of the group is spot on.
“It’s not about not upsetting them, because I want competition for places. Players have got to be able to handle that but from a chemistry and a numbers point of view we don’t need to bring too many in. It’s quality over quantity and that’s what the new owners are looking at. I think if we do get the players we want, everybody will be delighted with the quality and the ages.”
Writer’s View
Sheffield United have endured a tough week but it’s clear that they aren’t about to hit the panic button. It’s not unusual to see a blip in form over the festive period, especially with the quick turnaround in games. Still, they do need to do some business, with the midfield area perhaps the priority. The squad Wilder has at his disposal is more than capable of coping for now. What is clear though is that they will be careful when choosing the players they want to bring in.
