Despite rumors that the Eagles are considering recalling Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to their squad during the January transfer window, Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is certain that the player will stay at Bramall Lane for the balance of the season.
With 22 points from their first 12 league games, the Blades are now in fourth place in the Championship. Rak-Sakyi, a cunning winger, has been essential to their success thus far.
According to their source, former Manchester United scout Mick Brown, Rak-Sakyi joined the team on loan from Palace in the summer. Because of his impressive play, Football Insider has speculated that his parent team may exercise their recall option in the upcoming year.
The Blades manager has taken action to refute those rumors, stating that he is certain Rak-Sakyi will be with the team until May of next year. The 22-year-old has had some positive moments during his time under Wilder thus far, earning seven league starts due to his obvious threat in the final third.
Rak-Sakyi started off slowly at Bramall Lane as he got used to his new environment, but in recent weeks, he has exploded and appears to be a starter for the foreseeable future as they try to maintain their pursuit of automatic promotion.
In his press conference this morning before the game, manager Wilder was asked if there was any truth to the rumor that Palace will recall Rak-Sakyi. Wilder has been busy getting his team ready for tomorrow’s 12:30 kickoff at Ewood Park against fellow top-six team Blackburn Rovers.
Wilder stated, “No, he’s here for the season,” according to The Star.
“I have complete faith in that.”
There isn’t a more unequivocal response from the one person who is unquestionably competent to discuss the future of his own players, and Blades supporters will appreciate Wilder’s remarks because they are aware of how crucial the 22-year-old will be to their chances of promotion this season.
Rak-Sakyi was one of the many new players Wilder was able to bring into his team during the summer, but the club’s owners’ uncertainty undoubtedly hindered their ability to assemble a strong Championship team. As a result, it wouldn’t be shocking to see them try to bolster their roster during the January transfer window.
Nevertheless, their prospects of finishing in the top two would be severely harmed if they lost a player of Rak-Sakyi’s caliber, as they would surely have to search the transfer market once more to find a successor.
The 22-year-old has started eight of the team’s last ten games in all competitions. In the two games he hasn’t started, Jamie Shackleton began at right wing-back against Leeds last month, while Andre Brooks started on the right against Swansea City.
Neither of those players will contribute more to United than Rak-Sakyi, particularly in attack, and Brooks may even have less senior-level experience than the Palace loanee.
Tyrese Campbell and Femi Siriki are two more potential right-wing replacements for the team, but Wilder will undoubtedly play them in their preferred positions moving forward, and with good reason.
It is clear that the Blades boss is standing firm in his stance over Rak-Sakyi’s future at Bramall Lane, and while it is not public knowledge if Palace do hold a recall option, it remains to be seen whether he will stay at the club for the duration of the campaign, but it certainly seems likely right now.
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