Sheffield United CEO Stephen Bettis has been discussing what budget manager Chris Wilder will be given in the January transfer window.
It opens in five days’ time and Wilder has admitted he’s hoping to sign “two or three” new players.
The Blades have made a fine start to life in their first Premier League campaign for 12 years. Their 1-1 draw with Watford on Boxing Day leaves them sixth in the table. At the halfway point of the season they have 29 points.
Therefore, Wilder won’t be looking to make big changes to his squad in the new year. But Bettis says the money will be there for the United boss to spend.
“Chris and myself, we’re always looking to continuously improve the football club on and off the pitch and January is an opportunity to strengthen on the pitch and we’ve spoken,” he told Amazon Prime presenter Alex Scott ahead of the Hornets match.
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“We’ve got an agreed budget and will look at doing stuff in January.
“January’s always a difficult window, there’s less choice and it’s more expensive as well, and we don’t need to panic. We’re playing well, we don’t have a huge amount of injuries, but if the right players come we’ll make a move for them and hopefully strengthen in January.”
Who is Stephen Bettis?
(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Bettis arrived at Bramall Lane around four years ago and six months before the appointment of Wilder. So the rise of the club from League One to the upper echelons of the top flight has coincided with his time there.
When Prince Abdullah won his High Court case to take sole ownership of the Blades earlier this year, Bettis remained on the board.
His involvement in identifying actual transfer targets is likely to be limited. That will be left to Wilder and his scouting team. As well as director and long-term associate of Prince Abdullah – Jan van Winckel.
