Sheffield United face a standoff with Leicester City over defender Harry Souttar after seeing two bids rejected for the £10m-rated centre-back. Blades manager Chris Wilder is now weighing up defensive alternatives before the summer transfer window closes.
Leicester are playing hardball over the giant Australian defender. The Foxes refuse to drop their asking price for Souttar, who has captained Russell Martin’s team in their opening two games of the campaign. Wrexham are also lurking in the background, but Leicester will not budge unless their full valuation is met in the coming days.
Wilder is getting twitchy at Bramall Lane. The Blades boss knows he cannot afford to play a dangerous game by focusing on just one single player with time running out fast in the market. Asked about United’s hunt for central defenders and links to Anel Ahmedhodzic, Wilder pointed out: “Well. he’s a centre-half, apparently he’s available, and he’s got history with the football club,”
The clock is ticking for Sheffield United’s hierarchy to deliver fresh blood before the transfer window slams shut in just over two weeks. A desperate Wilder laid out the harsh reality facing his backline: “So there are options out there, in the loan market and with small fees, as we understand. So we’ll keep working on it and see what rocks up. But it’s an area of the pitch that we need to strengthen if we’re going to be competitive this year.”
The Blades have chased Souttar relentlessly all summer, but Leicester are refusing to flinch. Clarifying the current status regarding their primary target, Wilder stated: “We put a bid in for Harry Souttar so that’s with Steve [Bettis] and the board see what happens on that and if that advances anymore.”
Meanwhile, Leicester are dealing with their own major defensive injury nightmare following Ben Nelson’s severe ACL blow. With Wout Faes also facing an uncertain future after missing Saturday’s draw at Notts County, manager Martin confirmed incoming recruits are essential, asserting: “We’ll be looking to sign at least one player in that area and then be ready to react to anything else as well,”
Both clubs are locked in a high-stakes waiting game. Sheffield United must now decide whether to pony up the £10m fee or trigger secondary options immediately.
