Watford and Derby County are reportedly locked in a race to sign Sheffield United midfielder Ben Osborn this summer. Osborn, 27, has entered the final year of his contract at Bramall Lane and is understood to be keen on a move away. The versatile winger, who can also play as a left-back, has been linked with a return to the Championship. Watford, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, are believed to be leading the chase for Osborn’s signature. The Hornets are keen to strengthen their squad ahead of their quest for promotion back to the top flight. Derby County, meanwhile, are also said to be interested in acquiring Osborn’s services. The Rams are looking to rebuild under new manager Liam Rosenior and see Osborn as a valuable addition to their midfield. Osborn has made over 200 appearances for Sheffield United since joining the club from Nottingham Forest in 2016. He has been a regular starter under Slavisa Jokanovic but could now be on the move. The competition between Watford and Derby County for Osborn’s signature is likely to intensify in the coming weeks. Both clubs are keen to add a player with his experience and versatility to their squads. Osborn’s decision will ultimately depend on the financial package and sporting project offered by each club. It remains to be seen where he will ply his trade next season.Watford and Derby County are set to battle it out to sign Sheffield United’s Ben Osborn on a free transfer, according to Alan Nixon.Watford and Derby County are set to battle it out to sign Sheffield United’s Ben Osborn on a free transfer, according to Alan Nixon. Watford will be hoping for a much improved season this time, after finishing fifteenth in the championship last season. Derby County are one of the newcomers to the division. The Rams were promoted back to the Championship from League One, finishing second in the third tier. Both clubs will look to make their mark in the second tier, but both still have a lot of work to do before the season starts. Sheffield United were relegated back to the Championship last season and one player who will leave Bramall Lane is Osborn. The 29-year-old midfielder will become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of this month. Nixon reports that both the Hornets and Rams are interested in the versatile midfielder. He claims Watford are keen to get a deal done quickly in case Sheffield United decide to offer Osborn a new contract following their ongoing takeover bid. Derby County are monitoring the situation but are said to have other targets in the same position. Osborn has extensive experience at this level and above. He played 24 games in the Premier League for the Blades last season and 20 in the Championship the year before. He was a regular at Nottingham Forest before making the move to Sheffield United and throughout his career he has won 266 championships to date. He scored 19 goals and assisted another 33. Watford and Derby County could use this kind of experience in the middle of their park next season, but it remains to be seen whether the Blades will make a late move to extend his contract. Nixon claims the Rams are also looking at other names in the same position and that’s smart on Paul Warne’s part, who shouldn’t be caught out if they miss out on one of their targets this summer. The Derby-born midfielder may have been open to a return to his home city, but at the moment it appears Watford are pushing to get a deal done first. Tom Cleverley was recently appointed boss of the Hornets in a risky move at Vicarage Road. Several other managers have done well after getting their first job at this level, but after Watford’s campaign it seems risky to go for someone who has no real management experience. It will be interesting to see how the former Manchester United midfielder handles the demands and pressure and whether he can finally be the person to turn around Watford’s fortunes.Watford and Derby County are reportedly interested in signing Ben Osborn from Sheffield United. The 27-year-old winger has been with the Blades since 2014, but he has fallen out of favour under manager Slavisa Jokanovic. Osborn has made just one appearance for Sheffield United this season, and he is now said to be looking for a move away from the club. Watford and Derby County are both said to be keen on signing Osborn, who would provide them with some much-needed width and creativity. Osborn has scored 18 goals in 170 appearances for Sheffield United, and he has also been capped three times by England U21s. It is thought that Osborn could be available for a fee of around £5 million, and he is expected to make a decision on his future in the coming days.
