Tottenham have signed defenders Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker from Championship side Sheffield United.
Everton had bid £5m to land Naughton, while Aston Villa were also believed to be admirers of the 20-year-old, who has instead opted for Spurs.
A fee has not been disclosed but could be close to the £10m mark for the duo.
Walker will return to Bramall Lane on loan as part of the deal with Spurs, and the Blades will also be able to take Tottenham players on loan.
Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell said: “Having Walker available is a very important part of our strategy and it’s exciting to have the chance to talk with Tottenham and judge whether any other of their players might fit into our squad.
“If we think that someone could help us we could take them on a short-term loan throughout August and, if required, extend it to a season-long arrangement after that.” (BBC Sport)

This deal has been brewing for a while and now a deal has been done handing Harry Redknapp two more full backs for his ever increasing collection. Good news for Blades fans that Kyle Walker will be back at the club on loan for next season and the chance to take some of Spurs top talents on loan is also an added bonus and probably the best deal Kevin Blackwell could expect.

Both young Englishman have a bright future in the game but will probably find it hard at first to get a good run in the first team. Kyle Naughton may be employed more as a winger by the Tottenham boss, which would be wise because when I have seen him in action he has looked far more impressive going forward than in defence.

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The Rumour

Tottenham are ready to clinch the £11million double swoop for Sheffield United pair Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker today.

Spurs are confident the young full-backs will say ‘yes’ a week after the surprise move for the pair – in a coup revealed by Football Spy.

The Source: (Daily Mirror)

The Analysis

Kevin Blackwell will not be happy about losing two of his most promising prospects but after both players gave their all in an ultimately failed promotion push I guess the Sheffield United boss didn’t want to stand in their way.

Both Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker appear to have very bright future’s and hopefully they won’t get lost in amongst the large White Hart Lane squad. Naughton will be keen to push on to the first team fringes straightaway after playing practically all of last season whereas Walker is a far more inexperienced member of the pairing and will take some time to bed in.

Harry Redknapp will be looking to add more names before the transfer window slams shut but these two represent a healthy future for the north London club.

The Likelihood

Walker/Naughton to Tottenham: Almost a done deal!

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The Rumour

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp made a remarkable £11million double raid for Sheffield United’s young fullbacks Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker yesterday.

The highly-rated pair were in London for transfer talks after Spurs jumped into the chase to the annoyance of Everton who had a deal set up for Naughton.

Redknapp wants a package deal that would see Naughton join him now and Walker bought and then loaned back to the Blades for a season – as Football Spy revealed yesterday.

However the swoop has caused fury at Everton who had agreed a deal for Naughton last week and were assured that he was coming to them when he returned from United’s trip to Malta.

But instead Naughton and Walker were at White Hart Lane to discuss terms on the complicated double transfer.

The Source: (Daily Mirror)

The Analysis

You can never have enough full backs, at least that must be Harry Redknapp’s philosophy, having already employed a good number of them in his Spurs squad as it is, the White Hart Lane boss is after this impressive pair of English youngsters.

Sheffield United will want to be keeping their best players as they look to better their play-off final finish of last term but Kevin Blackwell may also not want to stand in the way of these two local born players but would also probably gleefully take the cash from their sales.

The danger for the pair of course could be that they get lost in the crowd at the north London club, especially with regards to the huge amount of similar players at the club, as mentioned earlier. Redknapp may see Naughton as a more attacking option on the right and could see both as players for the future.

The Likelihood

Naughton and Walker to Spurs: Naughton seems very likely to leave Bramall Lane and both are wanted by a number of other clubs in the top tier.

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The Rumour

HARRY REDKNAPP is making a last-ditch bid to hijack Everton’s plans to sign England Under-21 right-back Kyle Naughton.
The Blues thought they had a deal tied up when Sheffield United accepted an offer rising to £6m with clauses.

But now Spurs chief Redknapp has thrown his hat into the ring and hopes to convince the rookie to move to White Hart Lane.

Naughton, 20, is due back from Malta this morning, where he has been on the Blades’ pre-season tour, and will meet both clubs for talks.

Aston Villa had also been chasing him, yet now it will come to a straight dogfight between Spurs and Everton.

Naughton has been at Bramall Lane for 12 years but rocketed into the spotlight last season, winning an England Under-21 call after just 11 games.

The Source: (The Sun)

The Analysis

Kyle Naughton was destined to be in the Premier League sooner or later and after his Sheffield United side lost out in the Play-Off final to Burnley, despite the youngsters best efforts, it appears the best way for the 20 year old to achieve this dream is to make a move from Bramall Lane.

The right back was thrown in at the deep end at the Blades last season and proved himself more than up for the task as he started 45 games in his first full season in the first team. He has all the qualities to also impress as a more advanced wide man and that could be more what Harry Redknapp has in mind than yet another full back at the club.

Everton, Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers have all been sniffing around the England Under 21 international so a bidding war is bound to ensue so at least this way Kevin Blackwell gets a good price for the player.

The Likelihood

Naughton to Spurs: He is sure to leave Sheffield United and White Hart Lane could well be his next destination.

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The Rumour

Sir Alex Ferguson has joined the chase for Sheffield United’s £7million-rated whizz-kid Kyle Naughton.

Manchester United manager Fergie had brilliant young right-back Naughton watched in the Blades’ 1-0 Championship Play-Off Final defeat by Burnley at Wembley 13 days ago.

And the 20-year-old Sheffield-born starlet did not disappoint.

A source revealed: “Sir Alex has kept tabs on Naughton, but was keen to see how he’d handle the big stage at Wembley.

“The reports he got were very positive. Kyle wasn’t fazed and relished the occasion. He came out of the final as United’s outstanding performer.”

The Source: (Sunday Mirror)

The Analysis

Given the likelihood of a ‘homegrown’ quota being introduced in the Premier League we are seeing far more speculation revolving around English names and for youngsters in particular and Kyle Naughton is the latest to be put under the spotlight.

The young full back who it seems may be even more ideally suited to playing further up the park in either a wing back or straight winger slot, took his chance at Bramall Lane with both hands. There can be few players who manage to rack up 45 starts in their debut season in the first team and that the youngster did just shows how invaluable his performances became to Kevin Blackwell’s Sheffield United side.

Now the big boys are calling and after the club lost the play off final to Burnley in a game they simply did not appear to turn up to, the big boys started to really push for the local lad’s signature. If Man United do indeed pursue their interest with a bid as this source states then the Blades will have to make a difficult decision.

Yes they wouldn’t want to lose a player of such potential but equally they wouldn’t want to stand the way of such a glamourous move and would obviously stand to make a financial killing from such a transfer.

The Likelihood

Naughton to Man United: If Sir Alex does indeed put in a bid of this size I am sure he will get his man.

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The Daily Mirror reports that the striker will be missing for another month, something which is a blow to the red-and-white half of the city. While the likes of Jonathan Stead, Billy Sharp and Darius Henderson are all capable of goals, it is the former Saint who can be relied on to score the most goals.

“James Beattie is going to be out for another month after he had his knee cleaned out,” said Blackwell.

“We’ll be delighted to have him fit again as Kevin Phillips and Beats are of the same ilk.

“Beats got goals last season that no-one else could have scored and of course we miss him.”

Last season’s goal return indicated that Beattie is one of the hottest striking properties in the Championship, although it’s not just the injury lay-off that United will have to contend with. It will then take their star man a few games to build towards full fitness, can the Blades stay in the promotion race while he’s absent?

Brown was met with semi-positive responses from Pilgrims manager Paul Sturrock:

We’re trying to keep our best players, but like everything they’ve all got prices and at the end of the day Peter’s got a price like anyone else.

However, Hull now look to have a battle on their hands, with promotion-gunning Sheffield United entering the race, with Blades gaffer Kevin Blackwell stating:

He is a good player and as such I am always interested in good players. In that regard, then, he would be in a list of good players I would be interested in.

It is thought that the two clubs will now battle it out for the £3million-rated Hungarian’s signature.

Halmosi has not gone public with any comments and it remains to be seen if the 28-year-old would prefer a Premiership relegation battle at the Kc Stadium or a Championship promtion race at Bramall Lane. Thoughts?