Exclusive: Sheffield United back to beat Sheffield Wednesday to Ben Mee "coup" | OneFootball

The former Premier League defender has been tracked by both clubs from the Steel City this summer.

Both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday have been linked with signing veteran free-agent centre-back Ben Mee this summer.

Since being released by Brentford after the end of last season, the 35-year-old has emerged as an option for the two struggling sides following their respectively rocky starts to the new campaign.

While Mee himself played down the links between himself and Wednesday on Radio 5 Live earlier in the summer, he had said that he was waiting to hear back from a manager about a potential move. On Monday, it was reported by The Star that he had been invited to train with Ruben Selles' Blades.

They have required extra depth at centre-back all summer, but that need was made even more urgent by the departure of Anel Ahmedhodzic to Feyenoord.

Ben Mee told to make bold Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday choice

For Mee, the choice between the two Steel City rivals should be an easy one, according to Lee Hendrie.

The Sky Sports pundit exclusively told Football League World that the defender should choose to move to Bramall Lane rather than Hillsborough.

"I think this would be a real positive signing [for the Blades]," said Hendrie. "I know Ben Mee has got back of experience, but I think at the moment that's where Sheffield United look really vulnerable. The loss of Ahmedhodzic, not just defensively, but [on] set pieces, he has always been a danger and good quality driving out of the back.

"So yeah, you do think, obviously, beating Sheffield Wednesday to that would be, I think, a good coup for them. I really do, even if it is a backup to the players that they've got at the moment, but that's where they've looked really, really vulnerable.

"I think the choice out of Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday would be probably more appealing to Ben Mee as well with the situation that they're in."

Sheffield United have to bring in more than just Ben Mee at centre-back this summer

Selles has until the 7pm on 1st September to bring in cover for the middle of his defence. Mee, as Hendrie touched on, will be able to bring great experience to the Spaniard's backline. Thinking that him alone would be enough, though, would be a misstep by the Blades.

They have also been linked with the likes of Coventry City's Bobby Thomas and Swedish defender Nils Zatterstrom, of late. One of them, plus Mee, would represent more than acceptable recruiting in this position. What they can't afford to do is only bring in one and then be hit by any stretch of poor form or fitness luck and they are back where they started.