The Yorkshire Post reports Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is frustrated John Lundstram is yet to sign a new contract.
Lundstram has been offered a new deal at Bramall Lane, with his current one expiring at the end of this season. Yet as Wilder revealed earlier this month, there is an option for a one-year extension which the club will activate.
With offers also on the table for John Egan, John Fleck and Enda Stevens, there is hope they will be signed once the January transfer window closes.
“It’s difficult to get players to sign contracts in January,” Wilder told the Sheffield Star.
“I should imagine there will be more talks in February when the transfer window has closed.
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“I’ve always said that players should take more ownership of their careers at times. But I’ve got no problems with agents or anything like that.”
Why Lundstram may now feel more pressure in contract talks
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For Lundstram – and to a lesser extent Fleck – the big news coming out of the club on Thursday will have been greeted with interest.
The Blades broke their transfer record to complete the £22m (BBC Sport) signing of Sander Berge from Genk. Like Lundstram and Fleck, Berge is a central midfielder.
Although still only 21-years-old, the Norway international already has plenty of experience. Berge has played more than 150 club games, including in the Champions League, and has 20 caps for his country.
Wilder will probably want to get his new man involved in the starting XI as soon as possible. Which means Lundstram and Fleck’s positions are under threat.
That could be even more prevalent for the former if Wilder is growing increasingly frustrated with him. Last time out in the Premier League against Manchester City, Lundstram didn’t start for only the second time this season as Mo Besic was preferred.
Fleck is seemingly in a better position as his contract talks are at a far less advanced stage. The Scotland international also appears to have put recent speculation linking with with Arsenal to bed by publicly stating there is “no chance” of him leaving.
