After Sheffield United’s 2-1 victory over Bournemouth, the narrative was about John Lundstram.
The midfielder scored the winner for the Blades but there was still a cloud of doubt over his future.
Chris Wilder claimed last month that they’d use their option to extend his current contract – which expires this summer – by a year.
However, there has still been no breakthrough on new terms for the former Everton academy man.
Speaking about the situation, Lundstram did appear hopeful: “Going forwards it’s something that the gaffer and me will speak about. It’s a club on the up, so we’ll see what happens in the future and hopefully it can plan itself out.”
Though, should he really be at the top of their priority list? Arguably not, especially when there are potential suitors for defender John Egan.
The centre-back has attracted the interest of Wolves in recent times (The Sun on Sunday, 9/2, pg. 63), but Everton are also in the race to sign the impressive Bladesman.
The report suggests he is worth around £30m in today’s market, money that could be game-changing for Sheffield United.
That being said, keeping him at the club will be imperative, even if his current deal doesn’t expire until 2022.
Calling all FA Cup experts: Name the season these historic giant-killings took place…
A closer look at his wage suggests why a fresh contract for Egan simply has to be at the height of Wilder’s agenda. According to Spotrac, he’s only on £7.5k a week, a salary that typifies United’s meteoric rise from League One to the Premier League.
Sheffield United’s highest earner at the moment is Phil Jagielka on a colossal £50k per week, yet he has started 24 fewer league outings this season.
The difference in earnings between the two is seismic and considering Egan actually plays, handing him a hefty wage hike in order warn off suitors from elsewhere is a strong idea.
Via WhoScored, Egan has won 3.6 aerial duels per game in 2019/20, while also possessing a pass accuracy of 81.7%. That is the sign of a man who controls the backline well and they cannot afford to lose him.
Renewing Egan’s contract would be a promising building block.
In other Blades news, their £1.8m-rated striker is vindicating his HUGE January gamble…