Despite the Blades’ injury issue raising concerns among some fans about a possible January recall, manager Chris Wilder has stated that Anis Slimane’s future is elsewhere from Sheffield United. The midfield player was permitted to depart for Norwich City after essentially going on strike for the Blades’ cup match against Barnsley, despite having begun the season with Wilder’s team.

According to The Star at the time, Slimane was desperate to leave United and even met with CEO Stephen Bettis to try to force a loan move to Carrow Road, where he would play for Johannes Hoff Thorup, a manager he had previously worked with as a young player at Akademisk Boldklub. Some United supporters questioned whether Slimane could be called up in January as the team was lacking midfield players after injuries to Vini Souza and Oliver Arblaster.

Even if he could, Wilder did not approve of the way he planned his relocation to Norfolk. With rumors circulating in Norfolk that Slimane will join the Canaries permanently if certain conditions are met, Norwich has the option to turn Slimane’s loan into a permanent one. “I believe there are ongoing discussions about Anis,” stated Wilder. He wanted to make that choice because he is there for the season. If he had stayed, he would have been a member of the first team. He wanted to play for a manager he had previously played for, but players have that choice, and Norwich is a great team.

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