Sheffield United and Coventry City are interested in signing Hull City centre-back Charlie HughesFormer Hull City boss Ruben Selles(Image: Getty Images)

Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles has confirmed their transfer interest in Hull City defender Charlie Hughes. The former Tigers boss is a huge fan of Hughes, describing the 21-year-old “as one of the most talented young players in the league”.

Centre-back is an area the Tigers’ Yorkshire neighbours are looking to strengthen before the transfer window shuts on September 1, having sold Anel Ahmedhodzic to Feyenoord earlier this week. Hughes, Atalanta’s Ben Godfrey and Malmo’s Nils Zätterström are on the Blades’ transfer shortlist as they look to replace Ahmedhodzic.

Ex-Tigers chief Selles told the media: “It’s obvious we need to strengthen at centre-half and those are on our list, for different reasons. Ben [Godfrey] is a well-known centre-back and full-back. He’s very powerful for the level and everyone would like to have him.

“Charlie Hughes is one of the most talented young players in the league, so not only us would be linked, and Nils has already made the national team. I like to follow very closely the Scandinavian market, because of my background, and any good player is on our list. But nothing is concrete yet.”

United are not the only Championship club interested in Hughes’ services. Hull Live understands City have snubbed two bids from Coventry City for the highly-rated defender. The Sky Blues entertain City on the opening day of the season.

The Tigers have made it clear that they don’t want to sell Hughes this summer, with the club’s hierarchy convinced his value will increase significantly with another campaign in the second tier under his belt. Head coach Sergej Jakirovio: “Charlie is a very good player for us, very, very important. For me, the best way is for him to stay here for this season, and then his next step must be to the Premier League. This is the normal way.”

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