With summer approaching and players' contracts expiring across the country, many clubs are looking to see if they can add some quality to their teams for free, and Sheffield United are interested in a midfielder who is seeking a new club.

There have been recent transfer reports suggesting that the Blades are interested in Hartlepool United striker Josh Hawkes, via TEAMtalk. Various other clubs are also keeping tabs on the player, including fellow Premier League side Burnley, as well as Hull and Barnsley in the Championship.

Sheffield United's hopes of landing him could have been boosted as Yorkshire Live revealed that Hawkes will leave National League side Hartlepool United shortly when his contract expires. This is due to the fact that the midfielder has not agreed a new deal with Pools and will soon become a free agent.

The midfielder is only 21 and, even though he has been playing in non-league football, the fact that Premier League and Championship clubs are interested in Hawkes highlight the scale of his potential.

Clubs in the Premier League and Championship has been able to find various gems from the National League before, including Jamie Vardy, Yannick Bolasie and Chris Smalling, via PlanetFootball.

You could argue that it is a risk, but as he is available on a free it is a very low risk that is worth taking for Chris Wilder and he could well be able to get the best out of the midfielder, just as he has done with a Blades squad who were tipped for relegation from the Premier League but sit in the top half with only seven games to go.

Blades fans, what are your thoughts on this transfer news? Comment below!