Sheffield United are edging closer to sealing a deal to sign Harry Souttar as the Blades prepare a bid that would exceed Leicester City‘s asking price.

Chris Wilder’s side have been gunning for a return for their former centre-back amid a search for reinforcements to Japhet Tanganga and others, with the Yorkshire side already clarifying that Mark McGuinness is not in the frame for their Championship campaign.

New Bid Prepared

Progress has been made over the past few weeks, with an initial offer of a loan with an option to buy Souttar touted by Sheffield United, which was promptly knocked back by Leicester.

A new offer was then tabled over the weekend, with Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke revealing that an £8 million bid was lodged in order to sign the Australian international, who has already expressed a desire to move away from the King Power.

Now, according to the Telegraph’s John Percy, a new bid of at least £10 million with additional clauses is being prepared, which would match a previously reported asking price from the League One club.

Interest has also emerged from elsewhere in the Championship, with another of Souttar’s former sides in Stoke City being joined by Wrexham and West Ham United in recent weeks.

The 27-year-old has already featured for the Foxes in their EFL Cup debut against Northampton Town as their captain, with Russell Martin stating that he wants to keep the defender at the club.

Leicester Must Make Moves

With a £10 million bid from Sheffield United on the horizon, it now seems inevitable that Leicester City will part ways with Harry Souttar.

At a time where the Foxes need to raise as much funding as possible, it does mark a good deal for a player who has made it clear he would like to move on this summer, but now leaves Leicester with a severe headache days out from their match against Notts County.

Souttar’s exit, combined with an ACL injury to Ben Nelson, now leaves Leicester short until a replacement can be signed, therefore making a new defender the number one priority before any further blows can be handed.

Blades Still Have Work To Do

With Harry Souttar now poised to return to Bramall Lane, it marks a resolution to their longstanding hunt to find backup for Japhet Tanganga and Jamal Baptiste for the upcoming season.

While another option may be required on top of that, his addition will certainly facilitate an exit for Mark McGuinness, who is not in Chris Wilder’s long-term plans as it stands.

Gus Hamer’s impending exit may have helped fund the deal to sign Souttar, but his exit does now lead to questions of how Sheffield United will replace the Dutchman as he heads back to Coventry City.