Paul Heckingbottom makes Sheffield United squad decision but waits for Prince Abdullah clarity

Paul Heckingbottom has identified the areas of his squad where he wants his summer transfer focus to fall on but is waiting on clarity from owner Prince Abdullah about what his budgets for next season will look like. The Blades boss is keen to get cracking with squad plans for the 2022-23 campaign but can't do so until he knows what the financial landscape looks like.

There are seven players out of contract who are wanting to know if their futures are at Bramall Lane or if they face an uncertain few months looking for a new club. The Blades boss will also lose four loan players with Charlie Goode, Ben Davies, Morgan Gibbs-White and Conor Hourihane returning to their parent clubs, while Filip Uremovic's short-term deal is also up at the end of June.

It's an important summer and Heckingbottom has made a decision on where he wants to see bodies arrive. He is keeping those positions under wraps for now, but says there are six or seven spots that need filling.

However, the recruitment team and his coaching staff cannot start the ball rolling on new signings or contract renewals until he learns how much money will be made available to him.

Sheffield United are currently the subject of a takeover bid, while there is also a possibility they could be in the Premier League next season, with Heckingbottom's men pushing for a place in the play-offs. The uncertainty around the next few weeks is a contributing factor behind the lack of clarity but Heckingbottom says there are a number of questions he needs to know the answers to.

"We have six or seven positions in the squad that need filling," he told Yorkshire Live. "That won't change. What we need clarity on is what we have to play with to fill those.

"Is it going to be loans? Is