Davey linked to Irish star

He captains Newry City and has attracted interest from Rangers, Gillingham, Bury and Sheffield United this summer.

The Reds have become the latest club to be linked with him and are said to have lined him up to play in a private friendly yesterday against Everton at the Premiership club's training ground.

Clarke's contract runs out next year and Newry are ready to cash in on him before this month's transfer window closes.

The Irish Premier League outfit are also ready to offer him a new deal if he stays with them.

Sheffield United checked out Clarke during their pre-season tour of Northern Ireland. He scored against them for Newry, and was then given special permission to make a guest appearance for them against Portadown.

Bryan Robson also asked Newry what kind of fee they would be looking for, but in the end decided to drop his interest.

Clarke was also invited for trials by Bury and Gillingham, and was watched by Rangers.

Reds manager Simon Davey has already made 11 signings this summer and is known to be in the market for a defender, especially now that Paul Reid faces a three-match ban.

Oakwell will stage international football on October 17.

The Reds will host England Under 19s' final match of their UEFA Championship qualifying tournament, against Belgium (7.45pm).

Sheffield

United will have to pay close to 1m to lure Plymouth Argyle's David Norris away from Home Park as their Championship rivals look to exploit English football's shortage of goal scoring midfielders.

Bryan Robson, United's manager, has made a creative talent his top priority in the transfer market as he prepares to put the finishing touches to his squad before the deadline for new signings later this month.

Norris is understood to be among the few players considered by Robson and his staff to possess the required quality to merit making a bid. Although a concrete offer is yet to be forthcoming, Lee Hendrie's cartilage injury has made the need for reinforcements even more acute.

Norris, 26, has already attracted interest from Ipswich Town and Southampton but Plymouth's decision to turn down approaches of around 600,000 underlines their determination to hold on to their prize asset.

United have denied reports that Jon Stead and Rob Hulse are poised for moves to the Premier League with Derby County and Wigan Athletic.