Sheffield United: Wigan Athletic could join Hull City in the race for the young midfielder

The star understands that City has not yet made official contact with Bramall Lane to catch Slater, who won promotion from League One on loan in East Yorkshire last season.

This has led Wigan, who is well placed to win promotion from the third division this season, to consider the possibility of hijacking Grant McCann’s offer if the uncertainty in the MKM Stadium boardroom causes him a problem.

Like his counterpart at City, Leam Richardson is facing off-field problems as travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic threaten to impede face-to-face negotiations with some of the club’s overseas investors. However, Wigan is aware that McCann may struggle to advance an offer unless City’s future Turkish owners either give their approval or add more meat to their proposed development plan.

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Regan Slater celebrates a goal for Sheffield United in a Professional Development League game earlier this season: Isaac Parkin / Sportimage

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Preston North End and Rotherham United have previously expressed an interest in Slater, although the latter are only likely to revive it if Daniel Barlaser is taken away during the transfer window.

Slater admitted just before Christmas that he would prefer to stay with United – the team he has represented three times as a player and supported since childhood – if opportunities presented themselves under new coach Paul Heckingbottom.

Hull City and Wigan Athletic are both among the admirers of Sheffield United midfielder Regan Slater: Isaac Parkin / Sportimage

With United’s Christmas and New Years program torn apart by postponements due to coronavirus outbreaks among opposition teams, these have not turned out to be imminent, which in turn has encouraged City to try to steal their rivals before becoming free agent this summer will .

If a deal hits, Slater could face the side he turned pro with City’s journey to United among those who fell victim to the health crisis.

Regan Slater helped Hull City and their manager Grant McCann win promotion from League One last season: Alex Pantling / Getty Images

Interestingly, Wigan’s parent company Phoenix 2021 will be backed by Europa Point Sports, whose Gibraltar club took on United in a friendly shortly after Jokanovic’s appointment.

Slater ended the second half of that game, which United won 3-0 thanks to goals from John Egan, Lys Mousset and Tyler Smith – who have played 14 games since joining City in August.

Mal Brannigan, who was once a managing director of United, is now chief executive at Wigan.

Slater made his debut for United under Chris Wilder in 2016, scoring a goal in an EFL Trophy tie with Grimsby Town. He made his first league outing 12 months later, replacing former teammate Samir Carruthers during a championship game at the North End before going on loan at Carlisle, Scunthorpe and City.

Heckingbottom is hoping to recruit at least one new face before the window closes, with a midfielder being his top priority, although the focus will likely be on re-profiling a player staff overloaded with attack options, including the Blackburn Rovers’ target, Oliver Burke.