Cats to miss out on Blades’ boss Wilder

SHEFFIELD United have reportedly opened talks with manager Chris Wilder over a new contract.

The 49-year-old was not thought to have been top of Sunderland’s list as they look for a new manager.

That is not least, perhaps, because of the compensation which would have been needed to buy out the final two years of his present contract.

However, his record in the lower leagues did made him an option for the role.

The Chronicle understands Wilder was open to speaking to the Black Cats after David Moyes resigned on May 22. He was also linked with the vacancy at Crystal Palace.

Whether he was keeping his options open or just looking to strengthen his hand after guiding his boyhood club into the Championship is unclear.

Since then the Stadium of Light job has arguably become less attractive in the short-term.

Aberdeen’s Derek McInnes was the frontrunner but turned it down amid budget concerns and perhaps more importantly the future direction of the club.

Owner Ellis Short has been looking to sell for some time and last week the club issued a statement admitting the process was holding up a decision on a new manager.

The Black Cats were in talks with a German consortium and a group of Sunderland-supporting television executives.

However, neither party appeared willing to pay his asking price, thought to be around £120m.

The club’s interest-free debt to Short is in the region of £80m. The latter group, Fulwell 73, have since withdrawn from any negotiations.

New owners have a habit of appointing their own managers, with speculation German investors may look to follow the model Huddersfield Town used to win promotion last season, appointing David Wagner, who made good use of his home market.

Norwich City have since appointed Daniel Farke, who was previously in charge of Borussia Dortmund’s second team. Wagner was Jurgen Klopp’s assistant at the Westfalenstadion.

Sunderland had largely been looking at British managers, ideally with Championship experience.

Wilder’s success has come lower down, winning promotion with Conference side Oxford United and League Two Northampton Town before joining the Blades.

With McInnes’ snub and Garry Monk joining Middlesbrough, it seems Wilder could be another name to cross off the list.