SHEFFIELD United have moved to exploit the stalemate in Brian Howard's contract negotiations at Oakwell after identifying the Barnsley captain as the solution to their creativity problems in midfield.
As The Star revealed following Saturday's Championship victory over Watford, United have opened talks with their South Yorkshire neighbours aimed at bringing Howard to Bramall Lane before tomorrow's visit to Doncaster Rovers.
The former Southampton trainee, who scored the winning goal against Liverpool during Barnsley's remarkable FA Cup run last season, was scheduled to meet United's representatives yesterday to discuss personal terms.
Although both clubs have refused to comment on Howard's situation, a deal eventually worth around £600,000 is understood to have been agreed in principle.
With Football League rules forbidding Howard, who was withdrawn from the Barnsley squad which drew with Norwich over the weekend, to sign on a permanent basis until January, United hope the 25-year-old will accept their offer of an initial loan before cementing a permanent switch in three months.
United's interest can be traced back to the summer when this newspaper confirmed manager Kevin Blackwell, despite reports to the contrary, had discussed the possibility of recruiting Howard on the eve of the new campaign.
Blackwell has since monitored a number of other targets, including Wigan's Michael Brown.
But Howard's refusal to commit his future to Simon Davey's side has allowed United to take advantage by offering Barnsley an escape route out of a predicament which could see them lose their most valuable asset for nothing at the end of the season.
Chris Morgan distanced himself from suggestions that Blackwell's players could launch personal claims in the wake of the club's victory over West Ham following the Carlos Tevez Affair.
Meanwhile, Keith Gillespie could leave United after a disagreement with coaching staff after United's match at Carrow Road earlier this month.
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