Sheffield United look to sign Man Utd loanee Henderson and Everton’s Dowell again next season after Premier League promotion

SHEFFIELD UNITED reportedly want to sign loan heroes Dean Henderson and Kieran Dowell permanently.

The Blades sealed promotion back to the Premier League this season after Chris Wilder guided the club to second place in the Championship.

But two of their most-impressive performers were borrowed from elsewhere.

And the claims they want to make goalkeeper Henderson, who has now returned to Manchester United, and midfielder Dowell, back at Everton, full time.

England U21 stopper Henderson shone at Bramall Lane and kept the most clean sheets in the Championship.

As SunSport previously reported, the 22-year-old is also on the radar of Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Tottenham.

But the United ace has already declared his desire to be back at the Blades in the top-flight.

After winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award, he said: “It’s a massive football club and driving forward they deserve to be in the Premier League.

“For me personally I was really emotional and I’ve told the gaffer (Chris Wilder) ‘listen, don’t let me leave’, but obviously it comes down to the two clubs to agree on money and stuff, so I’ll be itching at the bit to come back here next season.”

RENEW DEALS

Fellow Young Lions starlet Dowell, 21, headed to Sheffield from Goodison in January and bagged twice from the middle to help get the South Yorkshire outfit over the promotion line.

He looks unlikely to be able to force his way into Marco Silva’s Everton first-team, and after a taste of first-team action, the ace could well return to the Blades.

Discussing the pair, Wilder said: “Dean wants to play football and I congratulate him for his attitude, it’s changed in recent years and he wants to get his hands dirty, just like Kieran Dowell.”

The Blades boss is already looking for recruitments after releasing five of his squad and telling a further seven they can go.

And with five loanees also departing, that has left him with just 16 senior players left.

Martin Cranie, Daniel Lafferty, Paul Coutts and Conor Washington will become free agents next month when their contracts expire.

And Ched Evans, Leon Clarke, Jake Wright, Samir Carruthers, Nathan Thomas, Ben Heneghan and Ricky Holmes have all been placed on the transfer list.

Wilder told the club website: “We have had a fantastic season and I've thanked the players for their contribution but attentions have quickly turned to what is set to be another exciting campaign.”