Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom desperate for reinforcements
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbotton admitted the club is going to have a tough time in the Premier League this season unless they can find some more players.
Paul Heckingbottom feels the club's season will be defined by what happens in the transfer market in the next three weeks.
The Blades' preparations for their Premier League return have been in disarray after they sold star players Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge without having replacements lined up.
Heckingbottom has been told by owner Prince Abdullah, who is trying to sell the club, that money is now there to reinforce his squad before the end of the transfer window.
Ahead of Saturday's curtain-raiser against Crystal Palace at Bramall Lane, Heckingbottom said: "We need more players, that's my job now to push and push and push and make us stronger. Simple.
"We can't hide away from that fact. You can see we are light on bodies and we are nowhere near where we need to be but the players that have gone have gone now.
"It is about what we do now and what we do now will define how the season is and that is the message when I speak to Prince Abdullah and the board.
"Forget worrying about the politics, it's about the signings we make now and how strong we can be in the next few weeks for what is going to be a tough season.
"I know the area well enough and this club well enough and usually in times like this we can surprise a lot of people.
" I'm not fearing it or dwelling on what has happened.
"From this point on we should only get stronger.
"It's going to be huge. Prince Abdullah has assured me that money is there to spend now so we need to go and spend it."
Norway international Berge, who was in the final year of his contract, was sold to Burnley on Wednesday.
Heckingbottom added: "I am not going to dwell on it. My thoughts on that will always stay internally.
"Things we could have done differently, but not everything is in our control. When clubs come in for our players - not in our control. It could have been different but it is not all down to us.
"Sander was happy to stay, he would have stayed here and played the last year of his contract and given everything for us and maybe stayed beyond or explored his options as you are entitled to do.
"I'm disappointed, Sander is in a way but has ultimately decided to move after the club accepted a bid."
