Tribunal to decide fee after Blades land top prospect

The Blades were, however, unable to reach agreement with Blackpool over the 18-year-old so the transfer fee will be set by a tribunal.

Clough said: “A number of the coaching staff watched Harrison at the end of last season and he has potential, that’s what we see in him.

“He will admit that he is not the finished article but we are delighted that he has chosen to join us to aid his development.

“Harrison is a big strong defender and there are a number of similar characters at Bramall Lane, from whom he can learn his trade.”

McGahey joined the Seasiders after spells with Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool. He made his debut towards the end of last season and went on to make four appearances as Blackpool just avoided relegation.

The teenager has become the second signing of the week by Clough, who agreed a two-year deal with former Peterborough defender Craig Alcock, 26.

Celtic will face either Legia Warsaw or St Patrick’s in the Champions League third qualifying round if they come through their second-round tie against KR Reykjavik.

The Scottish title-winners secured a 1-0 first-leg victory over their Icelandic opponents away from home in what was new Hoops manager Ronny Deila’s first game in charge.

The second leg is on Tuesday, 24 hours before League of Ireland Premier Division champions St Patrick’s host Polish side Legia in the return leg of their tie, the opening encounter of which finished in a 1-1 draw.

Cliftonville of the Danske Bank Premiership have been drawn to face either Beluras’ BATE Borisov or Albanian outfit KS Skenderbeu if they get past Hungarians Debrecen, with whom they drew 0-0 at home.

The reward for Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints – if they can bounce back from their 1-0 first-leg loss to Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia and win overall – will be a tie with either FC Sheriff of Moldova or FK Sutjeska of Montenegro.

Germany’s World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm has retired from international football, a decision he says was made before the tournament in Brazil had begun.

The 30-year-old announced his retirement from international football with immediate effect but he knew before flying to South America in June that it was going to be his last tournament for Germany whatever the outcome might have been.

“Over the course of last season, I made up my mind that I was going to end my international career after the World Cup,” said Lahm. “I’m grateful and thankful that the end of my career coincides with winning the World Cup.”