I understand and agree, but surely if we had set out the asking price at £2 million during the transfer window, and Sheffield United were interested, it would've made no difference to either party to sell permanently.
The only stumbling block I can think of as to why a loan-to-buy deal is more...
So presumably, and quite rightly imo, we are refusing to loan these players in their last year of contract without it being a loan-to-buy deal.
Does make you wonder why the club didn't sell in the window however...