Sheffield United hold two-prong transfer advantage in Coventry City, Nottingham Forest race: View | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest's Joe Worrall surely still prefers Sheffield United move despite Coventry City's interest.

Highlights

The transfer window is starting to heat up and Nottingham Forest’s Joe Worrall appears to be a wanted man.

The centre-back has fallen out of favour at the Premier League club, spending the second half of last season on loan at Turkish side Besiktas.

He has now returned to the City Ground, but it looks as though he won’t be sticking around for long, as Championship duo Sheffield United and Coventry City circle with interest.

The Blades have been credited with an interest in the 27-year-old on numerous occasions in recent weeks and months, while the Sky Blues have just joined the chase, as reported a few days ago by Alan Nixon.

Worrall looks likely to leave Nottingham Forest this summer, and while both Sheffield United and Coventry are interested in the player, you would expect the former to be the favourites to secure his signature.

Sheffield United hold key advantage over Coventry in the race to sign Joe Worrall

It has now emerged from Football Insider that Nottingham Forest are keen to sell four players this week as they try to avoid further punishment under the Profit and Sustainability Rules.

One of the players the club is looking to sell is Worrall, with previous reports stating that the Premier League side is looking to get around £4 million for the defender.

According to TEAMtalk, Sheffield United have opened talks with the player over a move to Bramall Lane, with Chris Wilder a big fan of the player – seeing him as a key part of his plans for next season.

It appears the Yorkshire side are keen to sign the player on a permanent basis, while Coventry City are reportedly only looking into a loan deal for Worrall.

That surely means unless the Sky Blues change their approach, Sheffield United will hold a key advantage as they're willing to sign him permanently – with Forest keen to raise money from player sales.

Joe Worrall is keen on Sheffield United move and that is unlikely to change

As well as Sheffield United holding an advantage over Coventry City in regards to the fact they are willing to buy the player, they also hold another key advantage that suggests Worrall will prioritise a move to Bramall Lane over the CBS Arena.

In that report from TEAMtalk, it was stated that Worrall was keen on a move to the Blades despite the club just being relegated to the Championship.

That is understandable, as while they struggled in the Premier League last season, they are still a side that will be expected to compete at the top end of the Championship once again.

Sheffield United have seen a few defensive players leave the club in recent weeks, so reinforcements in that area of the pitch are needed, and if Worrall were to join the club, it would be expected that he would figure week in and week out.

If the defender had his way, he would probably want to remain at Nottingham Forest, given that it is a club he has come through the academy at and has led the club to the Premier League through being captain.

However, that chapter of his career looks to be over, and with a move looking more than likely, you would assume that he will make a move to Sheffield United more of a priority than he would joining Coventry.

That is because the Blades are looking to sign the player on a permanent basis, meaning he can get a new contract that would see him secure his long-term future.

Coventry want to sign the player, but on loan, and that means more upheaval for the defender, as he will spend time away from the City Ground, but his long-term future will not be sorted out, meaning he returns to the club again in 12 months in the same position as now.

Furthermore, the Sky Blues may be unable to offer the same type of money Worrall is currently on at Forest, and while Sheffield United have their own financial issues, they may be able to negotiate a higher wage than what Coventry could offer.

Worrall will want to have another chance of playing Premier League football in his career, and while Coventry are performing well enough to be in the play-off conversation or have been in recent seasons, Sheffield United probably represent the best chance of securing top-flight football.