Sheffield United boss, Paul Heckingbottom, has said that the Blades will not be signing former Liverpool and Derby defender, Andre Wisdom.
The Blades boss was speaking after United saw off Barnsley at Bramall Lane today. It had been reported that Wisdom was training with United after moving on from a similar spell with Birmingham City in recent weeks.
But while the Blades’ desperation for a new body in defence has led them up this path, Heckingbottom has told the press that Wisdom won’t be signing for United just now.
“We are serious about it (signing someone) but Andre’s not at the level yet for us to bring him in and use him. So, we’ll be looking at other things if they are there. If not, we’ll work hard with the players we’ve got and hopefully get a few back over the break,” Heckingbottom said after the game.
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Remarkably, Wisdom is still only 28. He has enjoyed a good career in the main, taking in spells with Liverpool, RB Salzburg, West Brom and Norwich. He made his name, though, with Derby, where he made over 140 appearances for the Rams.
Our View: Wisdom Had To Be Match Fit To Have A Chance
The way that United play and the demands Heckingbottom puts on the players means that for Wisdom to have had a chance of a deal, he needed to be super fit and ready to go. Clearly, he’s not at that level, and it was something Lee Bowyer even mentioned when he found out he’d come to Shirecliffe.
For now, United and Hecky just need to move on and work with the squad. Sure, if someone on the free agency market comes available then we can look at it.
Worryingly, Heckingbottom’s eagerness to get someone in suggests little faith in Chris Basham or Charlie Goode being back any time soon.
