Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder still confident of signing Ricky Holmes from Charlton and Southend’s Ryan Leonard.
Charlton Athletic’s Ricky Holmes celebrates scoring their third goal
Charlton Athletic forward Ricky Holmes and Southend United midfielder Ryan Leonard remain on Sheffield United’s wishlist, manager Chris Wilder has confirmed.
The Blades have been told by both Charlton and Southend separately that their respective players are not for sale, but Wilder thinks he can still land the duo if the price is right.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder
United have already had bids for both Holmes and Leonard rejected this summer.
“It’s initial bids,” Wilder told the Sheffield Star.
“There’s always a bit of to’ing and fro’ing. It won’t drag out all the way through the summer. People are away.
“We have to speak to managers and we have to speak to owners. We have our valuation. Other clubs will have their valuation of players. If we can get those two close then, hopefully, it will get done.
“If we’ve got a player that we didn’t want to lose, we’d look to get a decent price. Possibly they don’t want to lose these players. We’ll see.”
Charlton Athletic’s Ricky Holmes scores their third goal
Holmes is someone Wilder knows well from their time working together at Northampton Town, with the 29-year-old scoring nine goals as the Cobblers won the League Two title in 2015/16.
The attacker then left for Charlton the same summer Wilder took charge at Bramall Lane and he scored 13 times in League One for the Addicks, despite generally operating from the wing.
Meanwhile, the Southend Echo reports that both the Blades and Millwall have had bids for Leonard rejected by the Shrimpers.
Coventry’s Adam Armstrong and Southend United’s Ryan Leonard in action
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