Sheffield United

Oldham bid to sign Beckett fails
Oldham have failed with a £150,000 bid for Sheffield United striker Luke Beckett and the Latics are now pursuing other targets. "There has been a lot of speculation by fans about Luke Beckett," said Oldham chief executive Alan Hardy. "I think it is only fair to let them know Sheffield United turned down a £150,000 offer for the player. "Ronnie Moore is now looking at other strikers but we would have liked Luke to have joined our promotion push." Oldham have also failed to land other strike targets. Hardy continued: "Moore confirmed the Beckett deal had collapsed - and that we had missed out on Gifton Noel-Williams, who had joined Burnley, and Paul Heffernan, who signed for Doncaster."

Warnock angered by Watford action
Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock is infuriated by the speed at which his £1.1m bid for Watford striker Heidar Helguson became public knowledge. "I assume they're hoping Spurs, West Ham or whoever come in with a bigger offer," he told the Sheffield Star. And the Blades boss is growing frustrated by general speculation linking him with a host of players. "It seems people are just using me," he added. "Every day there seems to be someone new coming to us." Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd is now bracing himself for the possible departure of the 27-year-old, with West Ham linked with a £1.2m move for the Iceland international. Boothroyd said: "Heidar is the type of person who wants to be as good as he can be. "If someone puts money on the table for him, I'm prepared for that. "If he stays it will be positive for us - but if he goes it can be positive as well."

Wright is targeting August return
Veteran Sheffield United defender Alan Wright is looking to be near to full fitness by the start of next season. The 33-year-old has been out of action since suffering cruciate ligament damage in January, but is back in training and will work all summer. "I have been fortunate in being a quick healer in the past and the rehab work is going well," Wright said. "I will build the leg bulk back, and then hopefully join full training a couple of weeks into the season."

Blades cancel Blackpool friendly
Sheffield United have been forced to call off their pre-season friendly against Blackpool. The Bloomfield Rd fixture, scheduled for July 27, is too close to the end of Blades pre-season tour of China. Boss Neil Warnock told Blades website: "I'm disappointed because I feel we need two games against League opposition as part of the build-up. "I may look to to fit in a game behind closed doors before our friendly against Sunderland."

Blades warn Hammers off Jagielka
Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock has warned West Ham that midfielder Phil Jagielka is not for sale. The Blades' boss insists no approach from the promoted Hammers has been made, and he would not welcome one. Warnock told the Sheffield Star: "We've made it clear we don't want to sell him, and that remains our position. "Phil has assured me he's happy here and wants to stay and it would take some extraordinary - in fact ridiculous - bid for us to reconsider." Jagielka has made more than 200 appearances for the Blades and is rated as one of the brightest prospects in the Championship. But Warnock accepts Sheffield United may find it hard to cling on to Jagielka if they cannot provide him with Premiership football. Warnock said: "I'm not daft, I realise that if we don't get into the Premiership and stay there we probably won't be able to keep hold of him for ever."

Oldham sign Blades winger Liddell
Oldham Athletic have signed winger Andy Liddell, following his release by Sheffield United. The former Wigan man becomes the ninth new player to join the Latics under Ronnie Moore this summer after having his contract terminated by the Blades. Liddell, 32, joined Sheffield United last summer and started 32 games for Neil Warnock's side, scoring six times. Before that, the ex-Scotland Under-21 international scored over 100 league goals in spells at Wigan and Barnsley.

Defender Short agrees Blades move
Sheffield United have agreed to sign defender Craig Short after he was released by Blackburn Rovers. Short, 37, will begin pre-season training with the Blades although his one-year deal will be officially completed on 1 August. Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock has previously managed Short at Scarborough and Notts County. Warnock told the club website: "I am delighted to get Craig. I've known him a long time and know what he can do." Short has also played for Scarborough, Notts County, Derby County and Everton. Meanwhile, transfer-listed forward Andy Liddell, 32, has left Bramall Lane after his contract was terminated to help him find another club. Warnock added: "Andy did well for us last season, but by letting him go it will free up some wages to bring in other players as well as Craig Short." The former Barnsley man scored six goals in 39 league and cup games after joining from Wigan last summer - including a brace in their 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

Blades recruit Nix and Mulligan
Sheffield United have recruited two young players on one-year contracts from other clubs' academies. Australian-born midfielder Kyle Nix, 19, joins from Aston Villa and is an England Under-19 international. Republic of Ireland Under-21 striker or centre-back Gary Mulligan, 20, was just released by Wolves and had a loan spell at Rushden & Diamonds last season. "This is a great opportunity for both lads, who have shown promise," boss Neil Warnock told the club website. "I have watched Mulligan a few times and he was the best player on the park in those games, while Nix did well when we had him at the end of last season." The Blades have also offered professional contracts to six players from their own academy - Stephen Quinn, Travis Binnion, Ryan Gyaki, Colin Marrison, Kyle McFadzean and Nick Travis.

Morgan commits future to Blades
Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan has pledged his future to the Blades by signing a contract extension. The 27-year-old has penned a new deal which keeps him at Bramall Lane until 2008, reports BBC Radio Sheffield. Morgan was recently linked with a move to League One new boys Nottingham Forest but has chosen to commit himself to Neil Warnock's Championship side. Morgan joined United on a free transfer from Barnsley in July 2003 and has made 83 appearances for the Yorkshire club.

Oldham complete Beckett signing
Striker Luke Beckett has set his sights on spearheading Oldham to promotion after completing his season-long loan to the club from Sheffield United. Beckett, 28, helped the club beat the drop with six goals in nine games in a loan spell at Oldham last season. "It has taken a long time but I am glad everything is finally sorted out," said Beckett, who said he did not figure in Blades boss Neil Warnock's plans. "This time I hope we'll be challenging at the other end of the table." Oldham failed in a £150,000 bid for Beckett but beat off competition from Blackpool and Southend to land the forward. Beckett added: "Ronnie Moore knows what it takes to get out of this league and I see no reason why we can't be in a promotion battle. "I knew I had no future at Sheffield United when I was transfer listed just after the season ended. "The gaffer told me again that I didn't figure in his plans when I went back for pre-season training."

Blades complete Shipperley deal
Sheffield United have completed the signing of Neil Shipperley on a free transfer from Crystal Palace, reports BBC Radio Sheffield. The 30-year-old striker has agreed a two-year deal. Blades boss Neil Warnock said: "We were mentally weak in vital games last season and I needed to get somebody in who's got the experience. "We tried to get Peter Thorne and that didn't come off but I'm delighted to have signed Neil."

Blades hit by Geary thigh injury
Sheffield United defender Derek Geary could be out of action for the next two weeks, after picking up a thigh strain in training on the clubs tour to China. The Blades have had a string of injuries on this pre-season trip. Andy Gray and Paul Ifill were sent back to Sheffield for further treatment on their injuries. United manager Neil Warnock is already without Danny Webber who is out with a groin strain and is limited to using only 17 fit players.

Shaaban not making Blades move
Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock says he is not about to sign former Brighton goalkeeper Rami Shaaban. The Egyptian international, 30, had said he was about to move to Bramall Lane after having a three-day trial. Warnock told BBC Radio Sheffield: "Rami came up for three days and we liked what we saw. "We asked him to keep in touch and if something came up we'd look at doing something but I'm not on the look out for a new keeper at the moment."

Blades reject Sharp loan approach
Sheffield United have turned down an approach from League One side Scunthorpe to take Billy Sharp on loan. Boss Neil Warnock feels the 19-year-old striker will get more games under his belt playing for a League Two team. Meanwhile, the Blades manager does not expect to make any more signings before the start of the season. "I know the funds are in place, but it's very difficult to bring somebody in now who will get in the team," the Warnock told BBC Radio Sheffield. "That's how pleased I am with the team at the moment. "Agents are ringing me up and asking what I'm looking for, but I tell them 'not a lot, really' because I'm not." United's Yorkshire derby against Leeds at Elland Road has been brought forward a day to Friday, 21 October because of television coverage.

Scunthorpe complete Sharp swoop
Scunthorpe have finally succeeded in signing striker Billy Sharp from Sheffield United. Initially the 19-year-old could not agree personal terms with the Iron but eventually put pen to paper. He has signed a three-year deal at Glanford Park and goes straight into the Scunthorpe squad to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The deal could see Scunthorpe pay up to £100,000 for the frontman depending on clauses inserted in the transfer. Sharp, who scored nine times in 16 games on loan at Rushden last season, had also been offered a new deal by the Blades.

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