Express & Star

Sheffield United reject Wolves' second bid for Harry Maguire

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Wolves have had a second bid rejected by Sheffield United for defender Harry Maguire, it emerged today.

It's understood Wolves have tested the water with a new offer of around £1.2m rising to £1.5m for the 21-year-old central defender after having an opening bid of £1m snubbed last week.

The Blades are seeking around £2m for the highly-rated stopper, who has a year to run on his contract and wants to leave Bramall Lane.

United managing director Mal Brannigan said: "We've had one or two bids that have been rejected so far for Harry.

"Both bids have come from the same club. He has the chance to play Championship football next season."

Brannigan admits the Blades could be tempted to cash in, adding: "If you look at the amount of money that could come in for Harry, we could utilise it on the squad, but we'd much prefer him to stay."

The indications are that it could become a drawn-out process for Wolves after yesterday's free transfer arrival of Peterborough captain Tommy Rowe.

Brannigan, who was appointed in January, is seeking to prove he's as tough a negotiator as Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey and the Blades are anxious to avoid a repeat of the bargain £250,000 sale of Kevin McDonald to Molineux last August.

United don't want to lose another star player to Wolves after being forced to sell McDonald for such a knockdown price as he had a clause inserted in his contract stating he could leave for that amount.

Maguire has so such clause in his deal, but with the south Yorkshire side keen to avoid losing face to Wolves again, a stand-off is expected.

Brannigan added: "We have no interest in seeing Harry go this year.

"It's very much in his interests to extend his contract which we'd like him to do and there's an offer on the table for him.

"If he doesn't, we'd like him to stay for the remainder of his contract.

"I think for his career, there's value in seeing this one out so he can hopefully see us through to the Championship.

"But Harry wouldn't be the first player to come through a club's academy and then want to play elsewhere."

United have already started making contingency plans however and the soon-to-be completed signing of former Walsall captain Andy Butler could be seen as planning for a replacement.