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Chris Wilder’s “transparent” update on Gus Hamer’s Sheffield United future as Coventry City transfer edges nearer Sheffield United’s owners are considering a second transfer offer from Coventry City from Gus Hamer, manager Chris Wilder revealed this morning, as the future of the Blades’ key man remains up in the air ahead of Sunday’s season start. City have identified Hamer as a player of interest after their return to the Premier League, with the player keen to make the move back to his former club. But so far they have not reached the amount that would persuade United to do business for their most talented player. The situation is complicated by the fact that Hamer is out of contract next summer and could potentially leave for free at that point. He could even agree a pre-contract move abroad as early as January. United turned down the first approach from City recently but speaking this morning ahead of Sunday’s EFL Cup tie at Mansfield Town, boss Wilder was open about the possibility of his departure. “I’m transparent,” he said. “I'm not as 100 per cent transparent as you would like me to be. But I think there's a reason behind that. There's been a bid in for Gus and that is being discussed by the owners. Our policy as a football club is that we don't like players leaving on free transfers, especially when we've paid a decent fee. “I know that was a decent fee when we were in the Premier League. And the situation is that we don't want players to leave on free transfers. And I think that historically has been the case. “So there are our thoughts as a club. We’re trying to get the right fee that we feel is equivalent to the player’s standing and relevant to what we feel that he's worth. Are we going to get back the money that we paid for him, what, three years ago? “That's not going to be the case because he's in the last year of his deal. But we're not going to get rolled over. So that's a decision. There'll be an input from me, my thoughts on it. But ultimately it's a decision made by the board to accept or not accept.” Hamer came to England with Coventry and has retained an affinity with his former club since leaving for United three years ago. United tentatively began negotiations about a contract extension recently but there has not been any commitment from the player’s side on that front. “Cards on the table, and I'm not chucking Gus under the bus, but Gus is ambitious,” Wilder added. “And there's been a bid made by one of his former clubs where the owner really likes him. The manager, speaking to him this week, really likes him. The supporters really like him. “And he's an opportunity of potentially a big increase on his salary, a length on the contract and going to a club where he's really highly thought of. So, you know, does he want to stay here? If he wanted to stay here, then we would have engaged in contract negotiations. “And that hasn't been the case. As I said, I'm not stitching Gus up here. When the window shuts, if he's here, he'll play and he'll have to give his everything to the shirt, which is everything that I demand. “But I don't want to lose him, of course I don't, because he's a top player. But if he doesn't want to engage in contract talks ... I mean, he might engage in contract talks if we give him £100,000 a week. “But we're not going to give him £100,000 a week, are we? So, there you go. There's a pretty simple answer to that. Same with Andre Brooks. You know, if Andre had come here and said, I don't want to leave, can we engage in contract talks, then that might have been a different situation. “But, you know, he was getting more money somewhere else, which is his decision. And then we have to deal with that situation and we have to try and get the best deal that we could, which we did. And Andre moves on and we try and find a replacement, which I feel we have done.”