Blades come out for free agent Ward

Ashley Ward has moved a step closer to a possible move to Sheffield United after being released by Bradford.

The former Blackburn and Barnsley striker has left the Bantams by mutual consent after reaching an agreement over the final year of his contract.

Blades boss Neil Warnock has made no secret of his desire to make 32-year-old Ward his eighth summer signing.

“We’ve had two meetings with him and we’re very interested in bringing him in,” Warnock said.

“He would come here purely for footballing reasons, not financial, but we think we are the right club for him. We think he would suit our style of play and we told him that.”

Bradford’s managing director Shaun Harvey added: “Ashley is now a free agent and is free to do whatever he wants, and join whoever he wants, and we wish him every success.”

The Bantams paid Blackburn £1.5m (€2.1m) in August 2000 to land Ward, who had cost the Ewood Park outfit £4.5m (€6.38m) when he joined them from Barnsley in December 1998.