MX23RW : Tuesday, December 31 20:54:19| >> :120:27972:27972:

Chris Wilder rules out January exit for Billy Sharp

Chris Wilder rules out January exit for Billy Sharp
© Reuters
Billy Sharp has made just one Premier League start this season.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has quashed speculation over a possible move away from the club by captain Billy Sharp.

Sharp, 33, is under contract at Bramall Lane until June 2021 after signing a new two-year deal in February, but has made just one Premier League start this season.

Yorkshire rivals Leeds are one of the clubs to have been linked with Sharp as Arsenal are expected to recall Eddie Nketiah from his loan spell at Elland Road, but Wilder insisted the Sheffield-born striker is keen to stay with the Blades.

"You can read hundreds of thousands of reports about us being linked with players and players being linked with us," Wilder said.

"He's a talented player, who has done fantastically well. He doesn't want to go anywhere, I don't want him to go anywhere.

"So as far as I'm concerned, that's the end of the conversation with him."

Wilder, whose side face Liverpool at Anfield on Thursday following their first away defeat in almost a year on Sunday at Manchester City, is hoping for a flurry of other activity in the transfer window.

"I'm absolutely battering (head of recruitment) Paul Mitchell," he said. "Every couple of hours (I'm asking): 'Is anything happening? Are we moving on anything?'.

"He would if he could, but the majority of the time it's patience and waiting and that's what we have to do.

"We've put a lot of work into this window. It's an important window for us, with the 'outs' just as much as the 'ins', to get that balance right.

"We're working very hard and I'm sure when Paul has some news for me, then we'll move on that.

"I'm quite impatient, but sometimes other people aren't as quick to do the deals as maybe I am."

Wilder confirmed midfielder John Lundstram (ankle) could return to contention for the game at Anfield after missing the 2-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

The Blades, who ran Liverpool close in a narrow 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane in September, are expected to be at full strength.

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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19181047143355
2Leicester CityLeicester20133443192442
3Manchester CityMan City20132554233141
4Chelsea2011273528735
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd208753223931
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs208663629730
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves207942925430
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd207852319429
9Crystal Palace207671822-427
10Everton207492330-725
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle207492030-1025
12Arsenal205962630-424
13Burnley2073102332-924
14Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton206592428-423
15Southampton2064102438-1422
16Bournemouth2055102028-820
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham1954102132-1119
18Aston Villa2053122536-1118
19Watford2037101533-1816
20Norwich CityNorwich2034132140-1913

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