Chris Wilder reveals Sheffield Wednesday situation he doesn’t want to put Sheffield United in | OneFootball

Chris Wilder has opened up on Sheffield United's January stance regarding player sales

Chris Wilder has claimed he doesn’t want to put Sheffield United into a similar position as financially stricken rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls are currently in administration following mismanagement behind the scenes by previous owner Dejphon Chansiri.

Henrik Pedersen’s squad has seen a number of departures this year, with restrictions preventing them from signing players, and results nosediving as a result.

Speculation has surrounded key figures at Sheffield United, such as Gustavo Hamer and Tyrese Campbell, but latest reports suggest talks are underway regarding contract extensions.

However, the January transfer window could put some pressure on the Blades to sell, if the right offers arrive.

Chris Wilder makes Sheffield Wednesday finance comparison

Wilder has indicated that his preference is to keep Sheffield United’s top stars in January, but that they cannot afford to turn down offers of a certain size, as he wants to run the club sustainably.

The 58-year-old claimed that they must be wary of mistakes made at Hillsborough when considering their own transfer plans ahead of the winter market.

“Because we're not Man City of a few years ago, where we can just chuck money after it, and we have to be sustainable,” said Wilder, via The Star.

“Because we basically don't want things to go the way things have gone down the road.

“That's the last thing that I ever want to do, and I've always been consistent with that understanding.

“I've been at a football club where there were financial issues, and I know how difficult it is.

“So that is the last thing that we ever want to happen to us as a football club.

“So we have to be sustainable, we have to be smart.

“We have to deal when we have to deal, we have to buy when we have to buy and we have to try and keep our best players.”

Wilder made it clear that his aim is to establish the Yorkshire outfit in the Premier League, and that being able to hold onto star players is the biggest challenge in achieving that aim.

“That's always going to be a big challenge, and we all want to get in the Premier League, don't we?” he added.

“There is, I believe, a higher expectation level than there has ever been at our football club over the last 10, 15, 20 years.

“But I do see us as a top-25 ranked football club in the country.

“The difficult one is obviously getting into that powerful division, and staying in there.”

Hamer and Campbell have both been key figures for Sheffield United so far this season, but their contracts both expire in the summer of 2027.

The former Dutch underage international, Hamer, was linked with a move to PSV Eindhoven and Leeds United last summer, leading to some uncertainty over his future at Bramall Lane.

Financial sustainability is key to success for Sheffield United

Sheffield Wednesday’s situation is a worst-case scenario for supporters, so Sheffield United will be extra wary of making the same mistakes given the rivalry between the clubs.

If the Blades can afford to hold onto the likes of Hamer and Campbell, then that would be a huge boost to their chances of turning their campaign around and getting back into promotion contention.

However, the reality is that Sheffield United have to factor in their financial footing if any offer arrives in January.