Blades to explore Sao Paulo link

The arrangement would give the Blades, who bought Chinese side Chengdu last year, the chance to bring over talented youngsters from Brazil.

Director Simon McCabe told the Sheffield Star: "They're keen to have an affiliation with a Premiership club.

"Sao Paulo produce some of the best players in the world, Kaka, Cafu and Denilson have all come from there."

McCabe, son of Sheffield United plc chairman Kevin, added: "These talks are exclusive, they aren't speaking to anyone else.

"The whole idea is to try and form some kind of link with them to make it possible for their young up-and-coming players to come here.

"Providing everything goes well we could send people out there to formalise everything by the end of January or the beginning of February."

In addition to buying a majority shareholding in Chengdu Blades, United also sent a delegate on a fact-finding mission to west Africa earlier this year.

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