Wilder hopes to get cash to spend

The 20-year-old completed his move to the Blues last night after being given permission to speak to the Championship club.

Adams, the subject of two previously unsuccessful bids of £1.2m and £1.7m from Blues manager Gary Rowett, travelled to the Midlands yesterday afternoon to undergo a medical. Along with the fee, United have also secured a sell-on clause to cover any future transfer involving a player who moved to the Steel City from Ilkeston in 2014.

“It is difficult when young players see Premier League and Championship clubs – and maybe a lift in wages and profile – and when they come knocking, nine times out of 10 the deal happens,” said Wilder ahead of tonight’s EFL Cup first-round clash at home to Crewe Alexandra.

“We have steeled ourselves since day one of that interest in Che, but he had to go on our terms. We have stood our ground for the price we wanted and we have got that. Plus, we cover ourselves going forward if Che, who is an undoubted talent, realises that talent. We are covered if he does that.”

Wilder had been keen to bolster his squad even before it became apparent that Birmingham wanted Adams.

Attempts to bring Ryan Kent, now at Barnsley, and Grant Ward, who netted a debut hat-trick for Ipswich Town against Rotherham United last weekend, to the Lane on loan proved unsuccessful, but talks continue over several transfer targets.

Asked if he hoped to get some of the fee United will receive for Adams, the 48-year-old replied: “I would like to. The board have backed me in terms of my judgment.

“We will look around, but they have to fit the profile and criteria if we are going to spend money on players to make us better.

“I do believe we are still light in certain positions.

“Even with Che in the group, I had spoken about us being light in certain areas.

“The flipside of that is we are still carrying bodies that are not part of the group and not part of our plans going forward.

“That is always difficult because we have to pay those wages and honour those contracts.

“There has been no movement on the likes of Kieran Wallace, James Wallace and Martyn Woolford. Those guys were told they are not part of our plans. They are still here in the building and we have to balance the books. But I will definitely be asking and looking to push on with strengthening certain positions.”

Tonight will be the fulfilment of a dream for lifelong Blades fan Wilder, as he takes charge of his beloved club on home soil for the first time in a competitive fixture.

“I have managed once at Bramall Lane,” added the Blades chief. “I was at Oxford United and we came here in the FA Cup. We were 3-0 down at half-time. So, that wasn’t the best.

“But it was still a great feeling beforehand to be back. We had a lot of Sheffield United connections at the time, with Alan Hodgkinson on the staff along with a couple of others.

“United had a good side and did a number on us that day. Bramall Lane gets 22,000-23,000 every week, that is incredible support.

“Even for a mid-table game at the end of last season with nothing on it, that underlines the passionate support this club has.

“The fans just want something to cheer about and to have players who run around and give everything, while showing some talent.”

This is the sixth straight season United have kicked off in League One and there is a school of thought that under Nigel Clough the two runs to the semi-finals of the FA and League Cups had a detrimental effect on the promotion push.

Wilder, however, insists that the mentality of his players has to be the same regardless of competition.

“I don’t think we can change our mentality as a group,” he added.

“But what we can change is the personnel and we will look at that. Not everyone can play every 90 minutes.

“But I don’t want us to change our mentality all the way through and the players know what I expect of them in every game.

“We have got forfeits in training to get us into that mindset where, whenever anyone pulls on a red and white shirt, they are not going to take it easy. It is within them as individuals.

“We will go full tilt in every game to win it, regardless of whether it is the League, the League Cup, the EFL Trophy or a team that is not so fancied. We will try and pick the right team for the right day and keep everybody hungry and fresh.”

Last six games: Sheffield United WWDLLL, Crewe Alexandra LDLWLW.

Referee: J Adcock (Nottinghamshire).

Last time: Sheffield United 3 Crewe Alexandra 2; March 25, 2016; League One.