Paul Heckingbottom assesses Sheffield United's chances of signing Brighton's Reda Khadra

Paul Heckingbottom says he is 'confident' Sheffield United can seal a deal to bring Brighton's Reda Khadra to Bramall Lane. Negotiations reached an advanced stage last week and the 21-year-old was allowed to visit the club on Friday and take a look around.

There has been little progress since then and the two clubs remain locked in talks. However, they are 'not far apart', according to the Blades boss, who watched his side slip to a 3-0 defeat at the One Call Stadium last night against Mansfield.

There is still work to do but the fact that the two clubs are close and it's now about the 'final detail' has given Heckingbottom confidence he can become signing number five of the summer.

It is also understood the player was impressed by his visit and has expressed a desire to want to join Sheffield United.

Providing an update following last night's behind-closed-doors friendly, he told reporters: "No progress. Sometimes it's difficult and things come up that make it difficult, that's the situation we are in.

"We have got to get an agreement between us and Brighton. I would say we are not far apart but sometimes that final bit of detail if you get that far is the one stumbling block.

"In my eyes not [far apart] but maybe in the eyes of the decision makers at both clubs maybe we are. I'm confident."

Heckingbottom has seen first-hand what Khadra can do. He spent last season on loan at Blackburn, playing in a three up front when they visited Bramall Lane in February. The German-born midfielder was a standout player as Rovers suffered a last-gasp defeat that was owed much to Wes Foderingham's penalty save from Khadra in the first half.

Although the current Blades boss was not in charge for the 3-1 defeat at Ewood Park when