Clough reveals Higdon interest

Sheffield United want to sign NEC Nijmegen striker Michael Higdon but have given up on Derby's Kieron Freeman.

Higdon, who has played for Crewe, Falkirk and Motherwell, scored 14 goals in 32 appearances for the Dutch Eredivisie side last season and that has caught Nigel Clough's attention as he searches for firepower ahead of the League One campaign. The Blades will make enquiries over the 30-year-old Englishman's availability and hope a deal can be done before the season-opener at home to Bristol City on Saturday. "We are interested in Michael and that as far as it goes at the minute," Clough said. "He is in Holland at the moment but we will be following that one up. But until someone is signed we will never say it's definitely going to happen." One player who will not be coming through the arrivals door at Bramall Lane is Freeman. The 22-year-old had a loan spell in South Yorkshire last season and Clough was keen to bring him back, but has now admitted defeat after a deal could not be struck with his former club. That also means young Rams striker Mason Bennett will not be joining the club as Derby wanted him tied into the deal. "It is certainly dead in the water for Kieron Freeman, the demands were a bit too much," the Blades boss added. "We would take Mason but he was linked in to that deal for some reason. "We have asked to take him on his own but they said no so we leave that one now. We would take Mason tomorrow if we could."