The latest on Derby County's interest in Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp revealed with Leeds United and Nottingham Forest 'target' in charge of his own future

Speculation about the future of Billy Sharp, the Sheffield United captain, has featured prominently in the news ever since the January transfer window opened for business.
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Even Chris Wilder, the Blades manager, admitted he would try and poach Sharp if he were a Championship manager, given the striker's lack of game time for his boyhood club this season.

Sharp has largely been restricted to substitute appearances since United were promoted to the Premier League, and Wilder recently admitted that the striker's future is in his own hands - and hinted that he would not stand in Sharp's way if he decided to move.

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Sharp, though, is understood to retain a determination to prove himself in the Premier League, and said as recently as the summer that he has no intention of dropping down the leagues - saying then that he would return to playing Sunday League football with his mates when his time at United comes to an end.

Derby County are the latest club to be linked with a move for Sharp, although sources close to Pride Park claim that no contact has yet been made with officials at Bramall Lane. Derby are struggling for goals - only Wigan have scored fewer in the Championship this season so far - but Philip Cocu does boast an array of attacking talent on his roster - not least the former England captain, Wayne Rooney.

Wilder confirmed recently that he had a conversation with Sharp ahead of the opening of the window, knowing the striker would be in demand.

'And rightly so," Wilder added.

"If I was in the Championship and needed someone to give us a boost in January and score us some goals between now and the end of the season and saw that Billy Sharp wasn't playing at Sheffield United, then I would be asking the question.

Sheffield United skipper Billy Sharp is wanted by a number of teams including Derby County and Nottingham ForestSheffield United skipper Billy Sharp is wanted by a number of teams including Derby County and Nottingham Forest
Sheffield United skipper Billy Sharp is wanted by a number of teams including Derby County and Nottingham Forest
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"Always the decision is with Billy. Obviously from an individual point of view, Billy is disappointed he's not playing. The decision is with him and if he comes to me and says he needs to be playing then I will respect that."

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