Sheffield United: Target told '˜You can't join the Blades'

But Chris Wilder, Robinson’s counterpart at Bramall Lane, will press ahead with his efforts to sign the Steelphalt Academy graduate who submitted a transfer request last week.

Although Robinson is prepared to sell McFadzean following the Dons’ relegation from the Championship, he warned: “No-one is for sale to a competitor. If they don’t want to turn up and get fined, then fine. It’s not got to that with Kyle yet. But if someone doesn’t want to be here, then their agent needs to do some work, and there needs to be a price on his head to allow this team to improve. If the players don’t want to be here, the price has to be right.”

McFadzean, a lifelong United supporter, has his heart set on returning to South Yorkshire following spells with Alfreton and Crawley Town. Wilder identified the 29-year-old as a viable target after taking charge seven weeks ago but is aware United’s League One status could complicate discussions. It remains to be seen whether Robinson’s position is set in stone or simply part of the negotiation process.

“You don’t get that amount of smoke without fire,” Robinson said. “Every player is for sale when the sale makes the team better and doesn’t negate us, or strengthen someone else in our league. If it makes us better, the player is for sale. If a player moves on to a Championship team for the money that can strengthen us, then it’s fine.

“I don’t care if it makes a player unhappy - he can sit in the reserves. MK Dons are bigger than any of us and it’ll be here longer than any of us.”