Sheffield United have signed one former Leeds United player and are closing in on two more on transfer deadline day.
Defender Leo Hjelde, who Leeds signed as a development player from Celtic, has joined on loan from Sunderland, and the Blades are hoping to tie up the signings of former Whites midfielders Kalvin Phillips and Joe Rothwell.
Phillips, England's player of the year in 2020-21, would be on loan from Manchester City, but it is not clear yet what the deal for Rothwell, who was part of the Whites' promotion-winning squad last season, would be.
Midfield has become a concern for the Blades as the transfer window has gone on, with Tom Davies' injury-hit Bramall Lane career continuing, and Oliver Arblaster unsurprisingly taking time to get up to full speed after anterior cruciate knee ligament damage.
TARGET: Joe Rothwell (right) (Image: Tony Johnson)placeholder image
TARGET: Joe Rothwell (right) (Image: Tony Johnson)
Jairo Riedweald, who joined as a free agent in the first half of the season to provide competition in defensive midfield, is also out injured.
But the Blades were forced to pivto to a left-back after Sam McCallum injured his ankle at Millwall at the weekend.
"He's going to be out for potentially eight to 10 weeks so he's going to have a minor operation on that one," revealed Wilder.
"We all knew straight away, apart from maybe a few over the far side, that it wasn't good for Sam and us, especially the way he's been playing.
TARGET: Kalvin Phillips (Image: The FA/The FA via Getty Images)placeholder image
TARGET: Kalvin Phillips (Image: The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
"So hopefully fingers crossed (he will have a) minor operation, (be) successful in that and get back as soon as possible."
Hjelde, who had a loan spell at Rotherham United, can also offer cover in central defence.
"I like him, he's a competitive boy, you've seen his career, footballing background obviously, into Leeds, onto Sunderland, been around their first team, plays left-back, plays left-centre-haf in a three as well, can do centre-off as well so gives us that vital cover and balance and good competition for Harrison (Burrows at left-back) now."
On Rothwell, who joined Rangers in the summer after spending last season on loan at Leeds, WIlder said: "Joe's in situ, hopefully we can get that one over the line.
"He's somebody that gives us that strength in depth in the midfield department, I've liked for quite a long time, talked at length in terms of Jairo being out injured, (Djibril) Siumare being a young, inexperienced footballer.
"It gives Oli Arblaster a bit of a breather as well.
"So good competition and balance in there with hopefully Joe getting over the line."
Wilder refused to comment on speculation around Phillips but a deal is believed to be close for the holding midfielder, whose career has stalled since he left his boyhood club Leeds for Manchester City in 2022.
He has had loan spells at West Ham United and Ipswich Town but has only payed once this season, at Huddersfield Town in the League Cup in September, as an 83rd-minute susbtitute.
The Blades are also close to adding Chelsea youngster Harry McGlinchey, but he will not join up with the first team in the short term.
The deadline to complete transfers is 7pm on Monday.