'Lack of belief' - Pundit tips Sheffield United's rivals to snatch £18m man

Ex-Leeds United player Noel Whelan has claimed his former side could launch a move for Blades goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale this summer, despite the 22-year-old only having been back at Bramall Lane for one season since securing an £18.5m return from Bournemouth last August.

Whelan said: “Ramsdale could be a possibility they’re looking at.

“There isn’t really anyone in that side bar the goalkeeper that you’d have a good look at. With that being said, is he going to get ahead of Meslier right now?

“Sheffield United are not the same team they were last season. We had opportunities (in their 2-1 win last weekend) we should have taken, but Ramsdale had a good game.”

He concluded: “Performance-wise, they (the Blades) aren’t getting forward and there’s a lack of belief. So you’d imagine a few of their players will be leaving in the summer.”

Ramsdale is among the league-leaders for making saves this season, just behind Whites 'keeper Illan Meslier and West Bromwich Albion's Sam Johnstone.

As the 'keeper still has three years left on his contract, selling him to join a Yorkshire rival looks to be an unlikely move for the Blades to make.

Interim manager Paul Heckingbottom has spoken glowingly of the ex-England U21 international recently, and it is widely understood that he's a player United are looking to build their revival around.