Paul Heckingbottom insists that no bids have been made for Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge, amid speculation involving Arsenal.

Berge signed for United from Genk in January last year, arriving for a club-record fee of £22million on a four-and-a-half year deal.

The midfielder scored one goal in 14 Premier League appearances in the second half of last season, as he started to adapt to life in English football.

Berge's this season this time around has been difficult, though, making only 15 appearances in the Premier League having spent most of the campaign unavailable through a hamstring injury.

There is a release clause of £35million in Berge's contract following United's relegation to the Championship, with a move away very likely this summer.

Reports have recently emerged, though, claiming that Arsenal have made a bid in the region of £17.2million for Berge, which was said to have been rejected.

But speaking to Yorkshire Live, Heckingbottom has insisted that no bids have been made for Berge, saying: "No, no offers.

"We know how things work. If there is anything happening for our players it's bubbling away behind the scenes until windows open and things can possibly happen, but it is all paper talk.

"Most of the questions you get asked about possible targets never ever comes to fruition. Ninety-odd percent of it will never surface.

"At the minute it is all just rumour and speculation. We've had no bids for our players."

The Verdict

It is inevitable that Berge will leave Bramall Lane this summer, but United shouldn't rush into selling him by any means.

He is under contract for another three years and hasn't really proved himself just yet, so they shouldn't sell him at the first sight of pound signs.

Clubs will probably have to pay around the price United paid for him if they do not wish to activate his release clause, as United won't want to lose out on the money they splashed out for him in the first place.