Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell remains hopeful of a deal for Manchester City striker Ched Evans.

Blackwell made a £1.5million offer for the Wales international last month and is waiting to see if it will be accepted.

Evans is expected to leave the City of Manchester Stadium over the summer due to the competition for a place in Mark Hughes' attack.

The signings of Roque Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez have merely intensified the battle to secure a first-team spot for Evans, who has scored once in 26 appearances - the majority of which have been from the bench.

West Brom have been linked with the 20-year-old, but Blades chief Blackwell remains optimistic of clinching a deal for the promising front man.

"We've just got to wait and see," Blackwell told the Sheffield Star. "We've put an offer in - everyone knows that - but he's still their player.

"Of course we respect that and, naturally, what happens now is largely up to them."