Sheffield United have enquired about the availability of Liverpool centre-back Ben Davies, according to Football Insider.

The lowdown

Liverpool paid £2million to sign Davies from Preston North End in January amid a centre-back injury crisis.

Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and even makeshift option Fabinho were all sidelined at the time.

But the 25-year-old didn't play a single minute before the end of the season, with Ozan Kabak, Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams preferred.

In fact, Davies only featured in the matchday squad for four Premier League fixtures.

Liverpool fans were finally given a look at him in their recent pre-season mini-game against Austrian side FC Wacker Innsbruck.

The latest

A Sheffield United source tells Football Insider that the Blades want to sign a 'proven centre-back' and have made an approach for Davies.

Liverpool are said to be open to selling the Englishman just six months on from his arrival.

Intriguingly, the Blades were apparently keen on recruiting Davies from Deepdale in the January transfer window.

The verdict

Davies' total lack of involvement suggests he was brought in simply to make up the numbers in a time of crisis, rather than take up a squad role going forward.

And from a business point of view, it made sense. Davies only had six months left on his Preston deal when Liverpool snapped him up, but now he's under contract for another four years. That should enable the Reds to turn a healthy profit.

Their efforts to raise funds by offloading peripheral players are progressing nicely. Another player unlikely to get a look-in - Harry Wilson - is poised to join Fulham for around £10million.

In other news, fans were left fuming as an old transfer target resurfaced.