Sheffield United are on the verge of signing former Manchester United youngster Callum Gribbin, reports Football Insider.
The 20-year-old has been on trial with the Blades since the end of last month. Manager Chris Wilder has seen enough to offer Gribbin a contract.
Negotiations have now started and all parties involved are confident they can come to an agreement.
Gribbin has been without a club since being released by the Red Devils at the end of June. Prior to that the attacker had been very highly rated at Old Trafford.
Both Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho invited Gribbin to train with the first team and it was thought he would make the step up.
SAKA, ANTONY AND 10 PREMIER LEAGUE STARS HEADING TO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP
What Callum Gribbin will bring to Sheffield United
(Photo by Tom Purslow/Manchester United via Getty Images)
One of the things that has drawn Wilder to Gribbin is his ability to play in any of the three positions behind the striker. Primarily he is thought of as a winger.
A versatile forward, Gribbin really caught the eye two years ago when he scored a hat-trick against Liverpool for the Man United Under-18s.
In fact, according to the Manchester Evening News a move to Anfield was a possibility at one point. The Red Devils had to fight off interest from their rivals.
Yet times had clearly changed by this summer and Gribbin was one of 13 players released from the academy.
Injuries have played a part in his failure to make it at the 13-time Premier League champions. As Dan Coombs from United in Focus outlined, Gribbin is still a talented player who deserves a chance at a top flight club.
Now it remains to be seen if Wilder brings his new signing into the first team fold. In truth, in his current 3-5-2 formation it would be difficult to see where he fits in.
But if a loan move is being readied then that will have to wait until January in any case.
