Sheffield United: Everton 'plot transfer raid' for key Blades defender John Egan, according to reports

As the Blades’ international stars jetted off around the world to link up with their national sides last week, Chris Wilder’s men sat fifth in the top flight following promotion last season, on the back of impressive results against the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

United’s success so far has been helped by their superb defensive record, with only Leicester conceding fewer goals than United’s nine.

And based on those impressive stats, it’s somewhat inevitable that the key players will attract admiring glances from elsewhere.

John Egan, the lynchpin of United’s 3-5-2 formation, has this weekend been linked with a move to Everton, according to the Sun on Sunday.

The ‘paper reported that Everton will watch Egan in action for the Republic of Ireland against Denmark tonight, to see how he fares in a back four, but that United will demand ‘a fortune’ for his services if any approach is made.

The defender cost £4m from Brentford when he arrived last summer, and helped United into the Premier League in his first season at Bramall Lane.