Signed and sealed: Sheffield United delight as Manchester United youngster Joe Riley stays true to his word

The 20-year-old full-back – who has made two appearances for the Old Trafford club – has been a long-time Blades target, but had to prove his fitness after a hamstring injury with a run out in the Premier League side’s Under-23 game against Liverpool.

He then joined the Blades on loan for the rest of the season this week, but Blades boss Chris Wilder revealed several Championship clubs tried to hijack the deal.

“I know he had a couple of calls from Championship clubs late last week and this week, to try and turn his head,” said Wilder.

“But the way the boy is, his mentality, he only wanted to come and join us. We spoke to him, met him, and he wasn’t going to ditch us after he had committed.

“That’s the type of person and player he is, who is highly rated at Manchester United.

“I have dealt with so many players in my managerial career, who say “yes, yes, yes” but until you get pen on paper you just never know.”

Having signed Daniel Lafferty and Samir Carruthers on permanent deals, Riley and extended Ethan Ebanks-Landell’s loan until the summer, United are hoping to bring in two more players – a wide player and a striker – this month.

But Wilder admits United may have to be patient and wait until the last minute when the window closes at the end of January.

“We are still bubbling, a couple of things bubbling beneath the surface in terms of getting a couple of players in,” he said.

“I do believe it may go right up to the window closing now, but we are really active and positive we can do something.

“If we do, we feel in two windows we will have made great strides.”

“In August, we made some big strides in the first window we worked in, and the second one with Ethan, Daniel, Samir, Joe - and hopefully a couple of others - we have added quality and not broke up what we already have got going for us.

Wilder is also hopeful of bringing Harry Chapman back on loan from Middlesbrough. The 19-year-old winger saw his initial loan cut short this season due to an ankle injury.

“His loan expired in January. We are trying to renegotiate the deal,” said Wilder.

“His rehab is going well, progressing well, it was a big blow in the early part of his career.

“It’s a difficult one to take because he was becoming an important player for us.

“We would love to have him back, I think he would give us a big boost if he did return.”