Sheffield United step-up their search for more firepower

United will enter the penultimate fixture of their pre-season programme without Callum Robinson and David McGoldrick after both men reported for duty with the Republic of Ireland while Oli McBurnie has been forced to withdraw from Scotland’s meeting with Israel due to an unspecified complaint.

With Lys Mousset, a £10 purchase from AFC Bournemouth last summer appearing to frustrate Wilder and his staff due his conditioning levels, captain Billy Sharp could be the only senior centre-forward at the United manager’s disposal for the meeting with County.

Having already resolved to bolster his team’s firepower before last week’s training camp in Scotland, that has prompted Wilder to widen United’s net in the transfer market - with Reading’s Yakou Meite the latest name to be linked with a move to Bramall Lane. The Ivory Coast international joins Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster and Oliver Burke of West Bromwich Albion on Wilder’s list of targets, although the latter is only likely to leave The Hawthorns if Robinson moves in the opposite direction following a successful spell on loan there last term.

Emmanuel Dennis, who impressed during Club Brugge’s recent win over Genk in the Jupiler Pro League, is also understood to boast admirers among Bramall Lane’s hierarchy.