Chris Wilder confirms Sheffield United double exit looms | OneFootball

Chris Wilder feels that both Mark McGuinness and Nils Zatterstrom will leave the club this summer

Chris Wilder is gearing up for his first full season back in the Sheffield United dugout, and he's continuing to put his stamp on the squad this summer.

This time last year, the Blades were in the midst of a tumultuous pre-season, with a lot of change occurring following their play-off final defeat against Sunderland the previous May.

With Ruben Selles in charge, Sheffield United went in a different direction when it came to player recruitment, and different profiles were highlighted, whether they be AI-based signings or younger, less experienced players with potential to grow at Bramall Lane.

When the project didn't work under the Spanish boss, though, and the Blades pivoted back to Wilder, a lot of work had to be done to rectify the transfer business that summer, as the popular manager returned to an almost unrecognisable squad from the one he left just months earlier.

He went to work almost immediately to bring in personnel that he favoured, such as Patrick Bamford and Jairo Riedewald, and ended the loan spells of Louie Barry and Ben Godfrey in January. Nils Zatterstrom, Christian Nwachukwu and Ehije Ukaki, three of Sheffield United AI signings that summer, were loaned out midway through the year, too.

And in the midst of his first summer window back at Bramall Lane, Chris Wilder is continuing to re-shape the squad following last summer's business.

Chris Wilder confident that Sheffield United can ship Mark McGuinness and Nils Zatterstrom this summer

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Sheffield United haven't shied away from refreshing their centre-back position this summer, as Chris Wilder looks for a new arrival to partner Japhet Tanganga at the heart of the defence.

Both Zatterstrom and Mark McGuinness were brought in last summer; the latter to be part of the backline in the present, and the former as one profiled for the future, with AI signalling him out to the Blades recruitment team.

However, Zatterstrom made no appearances last year following his move from Malmo, and was loaned out to Genoa in January, while McGuinness played just 25 times in the Championship last year, getting his only extended run in the team under Wilder in the final six games of the campaign, when the season was effectively over.

Chris Wilder wants to let them both go this summer, with Australian international Harry Souttar as the ideal replacement. Speaking to the Sheffield Star, the Blades boss is confident that they'll receive bids for both transfer-listed defenders.

"I think they'll be takers for both," he said. "They've played or been involved in pre-season. They understand it, their agents understand it, and they're working hard on it. Nils is a young player, but he needs football.

"Boys of the boys' attitudes in pre-season have been outstanding, but sometimes there are decisions that you have to make. They all want to go and play first-team football as well. Mark never came here not to be involved, and Nils wanted to push to get into the first team.

"So we'll monitor that. He didn't play last season when he went out, so he has to go play 23, 24, 25 games before Christmas. Then we can have a longer look at him instead of playing in our 21s in a league we win nearly every year.

Wilder admits that Zatterstrom could have a route into first-team action at Sheffield United in the future, but has seemingly been overtaken in the pecking order by Jamal Baptiste, who spent last season on loan at Rotherham United.

Meanwhile, McGuinness, who the Blades boss states signed last season for £5 million and has been sold for £10 million in the past, needs first-team football now, which he isn't prepared to offer him.

"He's [Nils] a different profile to Mark. Mark's gone for five million, and I don't know what we paid for him, five million. He's gone for big money," Wilder continued.

"He wants to play first-team football. It's no good him being in a squad and not seeing an opportunity to play. He needs to play, and that's in the best interests of the club, me and Mark himself."

How Sheffield United fans feel about letting Mark McGuinness and Nils Zatterstrom leave

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When news broke last week that Sheffield United were on the hunt for a couple of centre-backs as both McGuinness and Zatterstrom were surplus to requirements this season, Blades fans were quick to give their opinions.

It was almost unanimous that the former Luton Town man should be moved on, but there was a little more sympathy when it came to Zatterstrom, as the 20-year-old hasn't been given much of a chance at Bramall Lane.

"Just keep Zatterstrom and not waste any money on a player we don’t need. Clearly the money is tight; why throw it away on a player who already fits the profile?" one fan questioned.

"Not sure why Zatterstrom is being cast aside...looks a solid CB," another added.

"Thank god they can finally see McGuinness cannot defend," said one fan on the 24-year-old, while another agreed, stating, "McGuinness is one of the worst we have had. Would love to see the scouting report on him."

If Sheffield United can replace them with someone like Souttar, it will be much appreciated amongst the Blades fanbase. But with the new campaign beginning in less than two weeks now, there'll be an expectation among those fans that deals will accelerate over the coming days.