Sheffield United step up interest in Wolves defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell

Blades boss Chris Wilder is a big admirer of the 24-year-old, who played a key role in the club’s march to the League One title and promotion while on loan at Bramall Lane last season.

Wilder confirmed the Blades have already made an approach to Wolves in an attempt to establish what kind of fee would be required and they are now ready to pounce should it become clear Ebanks-Landell is surplus to requirements at Molineux.

"We've made an enquiry," he said. "We've asked the question. Like anything else, they are waiting to see so it's not guaranteed or concrete that he actually is available. But they've brought a couple of centre-halves in. It's an on-going thing.

"They've had a change of manager and brought a couple of players in. Centre-half is a big position for us.

"We've made contact with Wolves. Numbers get banded around at this stage but it's when players come back for training proper when I think things start to happen."

Ebanks-Landell signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal at Wolves as recently as January, but is now facing an uncertain future following the managerial switch which has seen Nuno Espirito Santo replace Paul Lambert as head coach.

It is understood Lambert played a pivotal role in persuading Ebanks-Landell to agree a new contract at a time when the Blades were pushing to sign him on a permanent basis.

The Scot’s departure, coupled with a recruitment policy which has seen Wolves load up on defenders during the early part of the summer, means his future has now been cast into doubt. He will be among a number of players eager to clarify where they stand when they meet Nuno for the first time next week at pre-season training.

Ebanks-Landell made 34 appearances in all competitions for the Blades last season and Wilder can offer the carrot of regular first-team football, something which is far from assured at Wolves, where the arrivals of Ryan Bennett and Roderick Miranda would appear to have pushed him further down the pecking order.

Trimming the size of the squad is a priority at Molineux this summer and business is expected to accelerate from next week onward.