Sheffield United transfer news: Blades may have to cut players as Manchester City's recruitment threatens to make James McAtee and Tommy Doyle signings less likely

But with plenty of irons in the fire, manager Paul Heckingbottom has admitted he could have to take players out of his 25-man squad list to make way for new faces.

Asked how many signings he would like to bring in, Heckingbottom has consistently refused to put a number on it.

“I want as many as I can but I'm realistic," he said on Sunday. "Me and (owner) Prince Abdullah speak all the time and he’ll want as many as possible but we’ve only got so much, only so many resources.

"We're working as hard as we can to finish the window as strongly as we possibly can.

"How do we want? We want as many good players as possible and I may have to leave people out of the 25 as well.

“But realistically, we know how tough it is to get players in. That’s going to be our focus over the next few days.”

Premier League clubs are limited to registering 25 players born before 2002 for the first half of the campaign, but can supplement them with an unlimited amount of juniors.

Players who are not registered cannot be added until the new year unless there are empty slots.

The Blades have signed eight players so far this summer, and now have 24 seniors to work with. Neither Doyle nor McAtee are classed as senior players, only adding to their appeal.

Manchester United loan target Facundo Pellestri also sneaks in as a junior by 11 days.

Doyle and McAtree were key figures in the Blades' promotion campaign after joining on season-long loans – McAtee as an attacking midfielder, Doyle a defensive one.

Heckingbottom has admitted he would like to bring both back, although unlike their Championship counterparts, Premier League clubs can only loan one player from a divisional rival at any one time.

McAtee, who has been in every City matchday squad this season, was an unused substitute in their 2-1 victory at Bramall Lane on Sunday, and given a warm reception from the home ground.

The Eastlands club do not want to sell 20-year-old McAtee but the fact his only outing so far this season was as a stoppage-time substitute at Burnley means they could be open to loaning him out again, which would suit the Blades' limited budget.

Doyle's future would appear to be elsewhere, having not made the squad this season, and spent 2021-22 on loan at Hamburg and Cardiff City.

But other clubs are alive to the pair's talents too, and Wolverhampton Wanderers are said to be keen on both. They could be in a position to sign them if the Citizens buy Matheus Nunes for a fee in excess of £50m.

Pep Guardiola has targeted the Molineux midfielder after a serious injury to Kevin De Bruyne on the opening day of the season.

There are reports the Portuguese has refused to train with Wolves to push through a move.

Ajax and Leicester City are also thought to be interested in McAtee.