Wolves launch bid for Sheffield United defender Harry Maguire

Wolves have now lodged an opening bid for Sheffield United target Harry Maguire who will take time to weigh up his options at Bramall Lane.

The 21-year-old defender is the subject of fevered interest from Championship clubs this summer as he moves into the final year of his Blades contract.

Reports today that Maguire was set to snub the interest of Wolves, Middlesbrough and Leeds and accept a new offer from the Sheffield club were dismissed by sources close to the player.

The process is unlikely to be a swift one, however, with Blades boss Nigel Clough on holiday and the player himself in no mood to rush a decision.

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But Wolves have proved to be the first cab off the rank in the chase for Maguire by lodging the opening bid at the start of the week. That is being allowed to lie on the table by the League One team as they make their own overtures.

It is understood, however, that Maguire favours the Molineux club at this early stage. And a further signal of the looming vacancy in the Blades defence has been detected in their overtures to Andy Butler, the former Walsall captain.

Maguire, named both player and young player of the year by Blades fans, is one of a number of targets to emerge for head coach Kenny Jackett.

Peterborough's Tommy Rowe is set to decide on a Molineux offer when he returns from his holiday – he is out of contract this summer and Posh fully expect him to sign for Jackett.

And there is interest in Liverpool midfielder Conor Coady, who also played for the Blades last season, and speculation of interest in ex-Albion striker Chris Wood, with whom Jackett worked at Millwall and is now thought to be available at Leicester.

But Maguire is the first player to attract a concrete bid from Molineux where a response is still awaited from the defender's club.