Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder urges players to “man up”

(Picture: Action Images)

By Josh Wilde

manager has said players should “man up” and “make decisions for their own careers” after the endured a frustrating deadline day.

With unprecedented access, cameras were allowed behind-the-scenes to film the frantic last few hours of the summer transfer window as and his staff tried to bolster their squad ahead of Saturday's match away at .

The video, which has over 21,000 likes on Twitter, reveals the inner workings of transfer deals, and highlights the power imbalance between agents and clubs.

In the nine-minute clip, Wilder says: “All five players wanted to be here, and only two out of the five are”, while Head of Operations Carl Shieber stated: “It's like dealing with the Mafia”.

Wilder has since added: “I've always thought that football, playing football, is the biggest driver. I'm not alone, I spoke to at about it, in a general sense.

“We talked about players taking ownership, ‘manning-up', showing some b***s and making decisions for their own career.”

Clayton Donaldson and Ben Heneghan completed deadline day moves to Bramall Lane, but deals for Jerome Sinclair, Domingos Quina and Devante Cole broke down.

Wilder believes some agents hold too much power over their clients, explaining that although he's not “anti-agent at all”, players need to take control of their careers.

The footage provided a rare insight for football fans, although it has been criticised by forward Sinclair for being “one-sided and very misleading”.

Sinclair was said to have been waiting at Sheffield train station for confirmation from his agent on a season-long loan, but the player has cast doubt on this, saying: “I was approached, but nothing was agreed … Don't believe everything you read or watch!”.

The 20-year-old is likely to find first-team opportunities limited at his parent club Watford, with record-signing and club-captain Troy Deeney ahead of him in the pecking order.

Could a January loan move give Sinclair the game time he needs and would you want him at your club? Comment below!

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