Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom has confirmed that Regan Slater is edging closer to finalising a switch to Hull City.

A report from the Hull Daily Mail yesterday revealed that the Tigers were set to sanction a move for the midfielder following Acun Ilicali's recent takeover.

Slater spent the previous campaign on loan at Hull and went on to help the club secure promotion to the Championship by featuring on 27 occasions in the third-tier.

The midfielder was on the verge of rejoining the Tigers in the previous transfer window before a proposed move collapsed on deadline day.

Due to the presence of Morgan Gibbs-White, John Fleck, Oliver Norwood, Conor Hourihane and Sander Berge, Slater has failed to make an impact for the Blades this season.

Yet to feature for United at senior level during the current campaign, Slater has only been included in the club's match-day squad on two occasions.

Ahead of the Blades' clash with Luton Town this weekend, Heckingbottom has shared an update on Slater's future at Bramall Lane.

Speaking to The Sheffield Star about the midfielder, the Blades boss said: "Things are moving.

"He was close to going there in the summer and it would have been good for him.

"I've spent a lot of time with Regan and his application has always been first class.

"In all honesty, he wants to get his career rolling.

"Hull are close."

The Verdict

When you consider that Slater has struggled to make an impact for the Blades during his spell at the club, it may now be time for him to move on to pastures new.

A permanent switch to Hull for Slater could end up benefitting all of the parties involved.

Whilst the Tigers will be able to call upon the services of a player who managed to show some glimpses of promise for the club in the third-tier last season, the Blades could use the money generated from the 22-year-old's sale to strengthen their squad in the closing stages of the January window.

Meanwhile, Slater could potentially kick-start his career by featuring regularly for Hull during the remainder of the 2021/22 campaign.