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Slater has been linked with a potential return to Bramall Lane this summer

David Prutton believes that Regan Slater would have "unfinished business" at Sheffield United amid reports linking the Hull City midfielder with a potential return to Bramall Lane.

The boyhood Blade and club academy product has been synonymous with the two Yorkshire sides throughout his career thus far, initially joining the Tigers on loan from the South Yorkshire club ahead of their League One title-winning campaign of 2020/21, before signing permanently at the MKM Stadium for a reported, and well-documented £50,000 figure in January 2022.

Since then, Slater has become a mainstay in the side under all of Grant McCann, Shota Arveladze, Liam Rosenior, Tim Walter and current City boss Ruben Selles, with the club enduring mixed fortunes in that timeframe whilst United have bounced between the Premier League and Championship under Paul Heckingbottom and Chris Wilder.

And, according to recent reports from SportsBoom, the 25-year-old, who put pen-to-paper on his most recent deal in the summer of 2023, has been linked with a return to the Steel City, as well as interest from Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Derby County.

There is still the potential for Hull and United to be two divisions apart next season, with Wilder's men currently leading the way in the Championship, whilst Selles' side are still looking nervously over their shoulders heading into the season's final stretch.

David Prutton issues verdict on Sheffield United, Regan Slater deal with Sydie Peck in mind

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, the former Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder turned Sky Sports pundit believes it would be a good move for Slater and his hometown club, as well as discussing the ramifications a deal may have on Sydie Peck's development, with the 20-year-old enjoying a fine breakthrough season.

"Sheffield United (are) keen on Hull City midfielder Regan Slater," Prutton began.

"Good age for the player, certainly got unfinished business, hasn't he, at Sheffield United. But, (he) has managed to bank a shedload of appearances for Hull City in a side that was looking for promotion last season, but is flirting with relegation this (season)."

"I think it would be a tremendous move for him first and foremost," the 43-year-old stated.

"But, Sydie Peck, you've got to put into it (the equation) as well, Ollie Arblaster, with regards to what they've got in midfield."

"There would be some serious competition, as well as the more established names."

"I think from Sydie's point of view, it's a case of being able to maintain his form of consistency and make sure that you keep anybody who's coming in to potentially replace you at arms length," Prutton explained.

"Hopefully, across the board, it breeds a competitiveness for getting into Chris Wilder's first XI that elevates the whole standard of the team."

"I'm slightly surprised, given Hull City's season," the pundit confessed. "But, as we all know, it's not necessarily about the whole, when it comes to working out what a player can do. It's what that player can do specifically on his own merits and, potentially, would he fit in at Sheffield United? Possibly, yes."

"It's an intriguing one. But not one that, from what I've seen of Sydie and Ollie, that they would shy away from, from a challenge point of view," he concluded.

Regan Slater reunion would be an intriguing move from Chris Wilder

Wilder is someone who is more-than aware of Slater's ability, having given the box-to-box midfielder his senior debut for the club in November 2016 against Grimsby Town, and becoming the club's youngest-ever scorer.

Since then, the midfielder who is estimated to earn £10k-a-week at the MKM Stadium, has gone on to rack up over 135 appearances in the Championship with Hull, which included two award-winning feats at the club's End of Season awards for 2022/23, where he registered 11 goal contributions.

Form has since been mixed for the Sheffield-born man, who should have added to his tally of one goal so far this season by now, missing a handful of notable opportunities after bursting into the box.

However, with the midfielder said to be mulling over his future if Hull were to be relegated, it wouldn't be a surprise if Slater was to jump at the chance of a Bramall Lane return, despite never featuring in the Premier League before.

Granted, Arblaster has only done so on a handful of occasions, but there was no denying the fellow academy graduate's importance to Wilder's high-functioning engine room prior to an ACL injury, whilst Peck has excelled throughout the season and has been tipped to reach very high standards.

As Prutton alluded to, the array of factors makes it an intriguing transfer development, especially with three other divisional rivals potentially looking to create a bidding war, as Hull would certainly make a profit on the man who is contracted at the MKM Stadium until 2026.