The Blades are still pursuing negotiations with Stephen Quinn.

Last season's leading appearance maker is out of contract this summer but United are still hopeful of making him the latest regular to pen a new deal after Chris Morgan, Nick Montgomery and Richard Cresswell.

"This summer is almost as much about getting a core into the team signed up and stable for a few years as it is about bringing new players in," said Kevin Blackwell, adding:

"We hope that Stephen can see by those extended deals - and the ones involving Ertl, Britton and Bogdanovic - just how ambitious we are.

"He is a very wholehearted player, versatile and knows all about us so if he stays it will help us put in place a strong core of what I consider to be real Sheffield United players."