He may not longer be a Sheffield United player, but a report about Ched Evans could indicate why others haven’t left the club.
Manager Chris Wilder criticised those on the Blades transfer list following their opening day 1-1 draw at Bournemouth. As the Sheffield Star reports, there are five players deemed surplus to requirements currently at Bramall Lane.
They are Samir Carruthers, Leon Clarke, Ben Heneghan, Ricky Holmes and Jake Wright.
In a brutally honest interview with BBC Radio Sheffield, Wilder told those not wanted to “go and get a club.”
“It’s up to them. I know, if I was a couple of them, that I’d have been at a new club already,” the 51-year-old said. “I won’t name names but they should maybe think about their career, rather than sticking something in their back pockets.
“It annoys me immensely, because I’ve looked after a couple of them.
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“Go and get a club. It should have happened a long time ago.”
How Ched Evans exit from Sheffield United could hold answers
Before his switch to Fleetwood Town, Evans was another transfer-listed by United this summer – according to the Daily Mail.
The striker had a year left to run on his contract in South Yorkshire and the Sun claims he had to be paid off to walk away from that early.
Apparently the Blades gave Evans £624,000 because of a clause in his deal meaning a salary hike following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.
Initially joining on a £3,000-a-week contract when he returned to Bramall Lane from Chesterfield in 2017, the 30-year-old was due to see that rise to £12,000-a-week.
This is not unusual. Most players will have clauses rewarding them with a pay increase following promotion. The problem for United is going up a division twice in three years inflates that rapidly.
It’s not known whether the five on the transfer list have similar clauses, but it is a distinct possibility. Especially as Wilder points to some of them perhaps prioritising money over playing.