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Chris Wilder confirms January transfer plans for Sheffield United

United have been one of the season's surprise packages.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder wants to strengthen his squad next month as he looks to consolidate a strong start to the season.

Wilder would like to sign "two or three" players during the forthcoming transfer window, which opens on January 1 and close at 11pm on January 31.

The Blades were tipped to struggle in what is their first top flight campaign for 12 years but Wilder's team are eighth in the table and he believes it is the right time to add to the group.

"I've said to the owners that maybe if we were in a different position you should keep your hand in your pocket, but I think now is the moment to strengthen and we will have conversations regarding where we can go with that," said Wilder.

"It's important that we get the balance right and get the right players in, from a mentality point of view and to strengthen the group.

"But definitely in our position we need to because there is still a lot of football to be played and the intensity of the league, as we saw last week with a game against Newcastle on Thursday night and then a trip to Norwich on the Sunday, is huge. It will take its toll on the group.

"It has largely been the group that came up as I believed they deserved an opportunity to show if they could raise their game – and they certainly have done.

"They need to keep that going, but I do feel there's two or three positions where we are a little bit light, where we need to strengthen to make sure performances and results are not affected."

Premier League survival was the aim for Sheffield United on their return to the top flight and the club's goals remain the same despite their impressive start to the season.

Forty points is widely-accepted as the benchmark for teams to stay up and the Blades moved on to 22 points with Sunday's victory at Norwich, with three matches left until the half way point of the campaign is reached.

Wilder said: "We're not at 40 points yet, we're a long way off. Remaining consistent is the message to my players. Look at the next game and keep accumulating points and keep adding to it.

"We're in a healthy position and we'd like to cement that and move it forward."

Wilder reported "a few tight bodies" following the win at Norwich but stopped short of revealing any new injury issues ahead of Saturday's home game against Aston Villa.

Mo Besic caught the eye at Carrow Road and his performance from the bench could see the on-loan Everton midfielder come into Wilder's thinking for a starting place.

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Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder on December 8, 2019
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5Watford168262524126
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
18Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


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