‘WORRY ABOUT GETTING IN MY TEAM, NOT A BIG MOVE’

CHRIS WILDER has warned his Sheffield United players to stop dreaming about big-money moves and focus on the Blades.

United want to tie down John Egan (right, bottom), Enda Stevens (centre), John Fleck (top) and John Lundstram with new contracts.

But talks have made little progress, partly because they are keen to keep their options open.

The quartet may feel they can cash in on United’s brilliant first season back in the Premier League with a lucrative transfer this summer.

Wilder understands the lure, but claims their priorities should be to retain their starting places – especially after he signed five players last month to increase the competition among his squad.

The Bramall Lane boss said: “I’m always aware and mindful of the fact that there are a lot of bigger clubs than us in this division from a financial and stature point of view, and I can’t really stand in the players’ way.

“But these boys as well, they’ve only been in the division for a year, so their thought process first and foremost should be to get in the side and stay in the side – not looking elsewhere at what might happen. “A few of them have got international aspirations as well in terms of Enda, Egan and Flecky. “Now they’ve got to get in my side, stay in there, and the competition for places is fierce, as you’ve seen. “Their thought process should be, ‘Am I playing Saturday? Am I playing Sunday?’. Not what’s round the corner.

“And I’d like to think that would be the case.” United entertain Bournemouth tomorrow before their winter break and Wilder opposes the idea. He said: “I could have done without it.

“I’d have liked to have carried on to be honest. “The game has changed, I understand that, but the challenge is to overcome nine months through different weather conditions, different problems – all the hurdles you have to overcome. “Supporters are not going away on holiday and, for me, they’re the ones who keep this division going.”