Sheffield United transfer latest: Chris Wilder posts update plus good news on Sydie Peck and Chiedozie Ogbene
SHEFFIELD United manager Chris Wilder says there will be no incoming transfer activity ahead of Saturday's Championship game at Charlton Athletic - but has stressed that things are ‘nudging along' in the right direction and has not ruled out business ahead of next Wednesday trip to Southampton.
United have made one strike in the winter window so far, bringing in Wolves defender Ki-Jana Hoever, while free agent signing Patrick Bamford has penned a new 18-month deal.
The Bramall Lane outfit have been linked with a number of players including Aston Villa's Ross Barkley and Sunderland's Dan Neil.
On the outgoing front, Alex Matos is reportedly set to join Swedish outfit AIK, with Trabzonspor, Sevilla and Cremonese all credited with interest in Gus Hamer.
On the state of play - and electing not to indulge in speculation regarding certain names - Wilder said: "There's been a couple of enquiries regarding players, as there is from us regarding players that potentially we want to bring in. So I think that's going to be the case up and down the country.
"As you can imagine, every manager or head coach that does a press conference leading up to this (weekend) game will be saying exactly the same things. I'm trying to improve the squad and I'm trying to reduce it as well. It's a busy time for everybody.
"We're fielding calls to make us better and to trim.
"We've got some good players that I should imagine are attracting interest. We'd like to bring a couple of players into the group, as I've said all along and been consistent with, to improve us for the second part of the season.
"I can't commit to names and speculation. We could sit here for the next 10-15 minutes and just go through the ‘dance’, but that's how it is.
"But, as I've always said, until they've got a Sheffield United shirt on and a scarf around their neck... Honestly, we've lost so many players and we do through situations where people catch onto stuff. We have to work so hard right the way through it.
"There's some obvious ones I get.
"When a midfield player comes up and a midfield player is allowed to leave and a midfield player is not playing, then there's going to be a connection. We're a good club to come to and we're after some good players. Then vice versa off the back of that, we need to trim the squad down."
On when incoming activity can be expected, he added: "It's nudging along the way. These players will have options and vice versa for our players as well. They'll have options and players want to see what's out there.
"We understand that. If some of those players that we're after are linked and other clubs want them, understandably so, but there's some others as well that are leftfield and we've worked really hard on. It's moving.
"All of a sudden some just go bang, there it is. Ki-Jana was one of them.
"We worked hard, we got the green light from the owners.
"I'd love it to be in place for the Southampton game, of course, because it's going to make us stronger and obviously the Ipswich game. But working away and confident and enthusiastic and excited about what we can do to improve the squad."
Sydie Peck returns to the squad for the trip to the capital after being out since early December with a calf strain, while Chieo Ogbene is also available again.
On Peck, Wilder said: "Yes, we're delighted. We've seen it for the last week and we are delighted he's back amongst us. I have said a lot about the young guy. It was a big blow, missing him and Ben (Mee) at that period.
"But we've managed to come through it and current form is really good. We're a different side to the one that faced Charlton in our first game.
"We've got Chieo back as well, back with us. He'll be involved in the squad, so that's another good bit of news."