Lavery’s contract with the Blades bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday expired in June.
Sheffield United expect to complete the signing of former Sheffield Wednesday striker Caolan Lavery next week, according to the Star.
The Blades have reportedly opened talks with their city rivals over a fee for Lavery, which the Owls are entitled to despite the player’s Hillsborough exit.
Wednesday offered a new deal to the former Northern Ireland Under-21 international earlier this summer and are therefore due compensation as he is under 24.
If the two clubs cannot strike an agreement, however, Lavery’s fee will be decided at a Football League tribunal hearing.
United are thought to have been in talks with Lavery for some time, with the 23-year-old attending the Blades’ home draw against Rochdale on 13 August.
The Canada-born striker, who partnered United’s Marc McNulty during a loan spell at Portsmouth last season, signed for Wednesday’s development squad from Ipswich Town four years ago.
He made his Owls debut against Burnley in 2013 – the first of 39 first team appearances – and will be most fondly remembered for his double in a 6-0 win against Leeds United the following January.
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