SHAKERS goalkeeper Paddy Kenny will join Sheffield United next week if the Blades make a reasonable offer.

The Yorkshire shot stopper moved to Bramall Lane as cover for the injured Simon Tracey in August.

His ever-present three-month stint is nearly complete and former Bury boss Neil Warnock, who bought Kenny from Bradford Park Avenue in 1998, is expected to complete the signing by the end of next week.

Bury co-chairman John Smith said no offer had been received yet but admitted it would be difficult to resist the cash from a transfer fee.

"They mentioned a few weeks ago that they would want to keep him but they haven't been in touch since," he said.

"We would want a fee for him. At one time we were after £250,000 but we never got an offer for him and times have changed since then anyway.

"We would love to keep him but money's still tight and if we get a decent offer we will have to sell him."

Kenny has proved an inspirational acquisition for Warnock, spearheading United's climb up the Division One table and providing a solid backbone for the team with a string of impressive performances that have quickly made him a crowd favourite.

He has successfully fought off the challenge of Wilko de Vogt to keeper the number one slot but now faces a fight for his place as Tracey nears full fitness following his knee problems.