Sheffield United players will NOT be rewarded with bonuses if they qualify for a European place this season, with their incredible rise unthinkable at the start of the season

• Newly promoted Sheffield United are on an incredible return to the top-flight
• The Blades have become strong contenders for a European place this season
• Even the club’s higher-ups didn’t foresee Chris Wilder’s Premier League rise 
• The club made no plans for a customary European bonus at the start of the term 

Sheffield United players are not due to receive any bonuses if they qualify for Europe this season, underlining the scale of their achievements in the Premier League since promotion last summer.

Chris Wilder has already guided his side past the 40-point mark, meaning the Blades are virtually assured of avoiding relegation back to the Championship.

Having achieved safety they will have a crack at securing European football for the first time in their history, but it is understood Wilder’s players do not have any bonuses written into their deals for such an eventuality.

Sheffield United will not be financially rewarded for securing a European place this season

Chris Wilder’s side have made a remarkable return to the Premier League, fighting for Europe

Securing a European spot seemed unthinkable earlier this season, but the Blades keep winning

Top-flight players often have European qualification bonuses in their contracts, but there are none in the schedule agreed by the club at the start of the season, when qualifying for the Champions League or Europe League was unthinkable.

The players will, however, earn increasing amounts depending on how high they finish in the league. And, as Sportsmail revealed in November, they will split a £10million pot for staying up, along with survival bonuses they are likely to have negotiated into their deals.

Sheffield United’s owners may make their own personal gestures to players should their dream of European football become reality. 

At other clubs, a European bonus is customary, but it would have never been considered 

When Leicester were crowned champions against all the odds in 2016, owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha bought BMW cars for everyone in the squad.

The Blades are seventh in the table — four points behind Chelsea in the final guaranteed Champions League spot — which has often been enough to clinch a spot in the Europa League qualifiers in recent years. 

But Manchester City’s pending European ban could open up an extra slot, meaning Wilder’s men may only need to finish eighth.

They may receive personal gestures of gratitude from the owners if the Blades reach Europe

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