BURNLEY were today bracing themselves for another bid by Sheffield United to snatch Ade Akinbiyi from Turf Moor.

The Clarets today revealed they have turned down a seven-figure sum after the promotion-chasing Blades turned their attention to Akinbiyi in a bid to bolster their squad for a charge towards the Premiership.

Clarets chairman Barry Kilby is reluctant to disclose full details.

However, sources in Sheffield have indicated the bid was in excess of £1million with another major down payment based on promotion, which would take the total fee close to the club-record equalling £1.5million received for midfield starlet Richard Chaplow when he joined West Bromwich Albion this time last year.

And the big worry now is that should United return to dangle the carrot of a new, improved offer, Burnley's promising season could implode to leave them with just ONE recognised striker just a fortnight before the closure of January's transfer window.

Kilby confirmed: "Sheffield United made an offer that we have since turned down. I don't want to talk figures, but they did not meet our valuation of the player and we told United that.

"That's where we stand at the moment and the ball is now back in their court."

Bramall Lane boss Neil Warnock is becoming increasingly desperate to add to his strikeforce after losing Danny Webber for up to a month through a hamstring injury, leaving him with just two fit strikers in Neil Shipperley and Steve Kabba.

Cardiff City's 19-year-old striker Cameron Jerome was Warnock's first target, but a £2m bid failed to impress the Welsh club and the Blades boss has been forced to draw up an alternative hit-list headed by Akinbiyi, who cost the Clarets £600,000 when they ironically beat United to his signature to land him from Stoke City only last February.

Since then, the striker's valuation has soared thanks to 14 goals that have rocketed him towards the top of the Championship goalscoring charts.

And the wider concern for Burnley fans is the effect that selling Akinbiyi could have on the club's long-term aim of tying manager Steve Cotterill down to a new, extended contract.