Sheffield United considering signing £45k-a-week man - he was previously dubbed a 'wonderkid' | OneFootball

Jairo Riedewald is the latest experienced figure to be offered a trial at Bramall Lane

Sheffield United have offered former Crystal Palace and Ajax utility man Jairo Riedewald a trial period following a recent admission from manager Chris Wilder relating to the club's future transfer plans.

The Blades' start to the season has been well-documented, as they currently sit at the foot of the Championship table as second tier football returns to the club's agenda this weekend following the October international break.

Just five months after agonisingly missing out on an imminent return to the Premier League, Wilder's third spell in the S2 hotseat hasn't improved United's fortunes, having won just one of 10 games across all competitions, which came in the 58-year-old's second game back in the dugout at Oxford United on September 27th.

However, whilst the experienced boss has to wait just under two more months until he can fully set about remoulding a new-look and rather top-heavy side, Wilder could still emulate his successor and predecessor, Ruben Selles, in further bolstering a squad which still possesses plenty of flair and experience with yet another free agent.

The South Yorkshire side have adopted new transfer strategies under the ownership of COH Sports, who took control of the club from Prince Abdullah last December, and one of those has been looking to utilise the free agent and loan market to great effect, having done so on many occasions last season as they achieved 90 points across the regular season.

Riedewald certainly falls into said category, and he could play his way into potentially permanent contract talks should he impress behind-the-scenes.

Sheffield United offer ex-Crystal Palace man Jairo Riedewald trial amid Chris Wilder revelation

Such developments have been made public by the Sheffield Star on Tuesday night, as United look to make immediate strides of progress after their disastrous start to the campaign.

Riedewald could follow the likes of Danny Ings and Ben Mee as the latest free agent acquisition in this part of the Steel City, with the ex-Burnley duo joining in the latter stages of the summer window and already making strong impressions on Wilder and supporters, such is the know-how and experience they have brought to a side extremely down on their luck.

The aforementioned report states that the 29-year-old's presence would help rectify recent worries the Blades have had in certain areas of their defensive department, despite the fact that six of their 14 incomings thus far are all natural centre-backs, with Riedewald capable of filling in on the left side of Wilder's recently adopted back three, which saw Japhet Tanganga and Mark McGuinness partner the aforementioned Mee in the 1-0 defeat at Hull City on October 4th.

The Ajax academy graduate was previously dubbed a 'wonderkid' during his breakthrough with the Dutch giants, as the defender subsequently became a natural in a deep-lying midfield position for the Amsterdam club and at Selhurst Park, having made 96 appearances for the Eagles between 2017 and 2024.

Riedewald spent last season with Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp, featuring 28 times for them before returning to the free agent circuit for the time being.

Jairo Riedewald could be the first piece in Chris Wilder's latest Sheffield United rebuild

Speaking after the recent 1-0 defeat at the MKM Stadium, Wilder admitted that he and senior staff at the club had prepared a 'document' that was to be filed off to COH Sports in order to set the wheels in motion for a crucial January recruitment drive.

As such, many have debated which players are likely to remain at Bramall Lane post-January, particularly as many of his current squad have become shadows of their former selves when it comes to form, or have failed to gain sufficient minutes since joining the club on a temporary basis, initially under Selles.

According to Capology - a site which ESTIMATES player earnings - Riedewald was earning a weekly salary approximate to the figure of £45,593 per week, meaning a fairly sizeable wage packet may still have to be negotiated between himself and the Blades' hierarchy, should he become the subject of permanent contract talks after his upcoming period at the club's Shirecliffe training base.