Sheffield United manager Slavisa Jokanovic says he is confident that Aaron Ramsdale and Sander Berge will be in the starting lineup when the Blades play their league opener against Birmingham City on Saturday.

There has been speculation in the local media over the last 24 hours that Arsenal are planning to make a bid for both players, (with some reports suggesting an offer worth £50m could be tabled), but Jokanovic believes the pair will play this weekend:

“I will be really surprised if these two guys don’t start the game against Birmingham. In the 20-odd days ahead of us I hope these two guys will stay with us because they are important players in my squad.”

If the Gunners do offer £50m for both Ramsdale and Berge, it is highly unlikely to be accepted by United, with the two stars thought to be valued at around £75m by the Yorkshire club.

There has also been no indication that either player will agitate for a move, although that could change if the Blades do, as expected, reject Arsenal’s first offer.

Jokanovic still says, though, that the prospect of Ramsdale and Berge both leaving this summer is a “possibility” but he said he wasn’t banking on that happening.