SHEFFIELD United are keen on signing Southend United’s player of the year Ryan Leonard, Echosport understands.

Blues boss Phil Brown has confirmed a Championship club have expressed an interest in snapping up the 24-year-old this summer.

And it is believed to be the newly promoted Blades who are attempting to bring in the midfielder.

“The interest in Lenny at the moment is only manager to manager but I’ve told him it would take a substantial bid to sign him,” said Brown.

“I won’t say who the club is but we’ve extended Lenny’s deal for another year and will be doing all we can to keep him because everyone knows how important he is to us.”