Sheffield United-linked defender Ben Davies set for Deadline Day move to Liverpool

Preston’s Ben Davies is believed to have been on a list of players the Blades were interested in to help plug the gap left by the long-term injury to talismanic centre back Jack O’Connell.

It did, at one stage, look as though it was Celtic who United had lost out to, with Davies reported to have agreed to sign for the struggling Scottish champions.

“Hopefully we can get it tied up before the deadline,” said Celtic boss Neil Lennon recently. “We’d like it to happen but again, I can’t say for sure whether it’s going to happen or not.”

However, Liverpool have made a surprise move for the 25 year-old having agreed a £2 million deal for Davies which will also see North End take Liverpool's 19-year-old Dutch defender Sepp van der Berg on loan for the rest of the season as part of the switch, according to The Star’s sister paper Lancashire Post.

Sheffield United Transfers: What can we expect from Blades on Deadline Day?

Blades boss Chris Wilder had made a central defender and an attacking midfielder his priority in the window but having handed over a list of players he wanted, the rest was left to the Sheffield United hierarchy.

One of those targets, Jesse Lingard, moved on loan from Manchester United to West Ham last week with the Hammers understood to be paying his sizable salary in full as well as handing over a loan fee for the England international, reported to be around £1.5 million.

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