CHERRIES have reluctantly accepted a bid from Sheffield United for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, the Daily Echo understands.

Ramsdale joined Cherries from the Blades for an initial £800,000 in 2017, but could now be set for a return to Bramall Lane.

A deal worth £18.5million is understood to have been accepted, which includes a 15 per cent sell-on clause that Sheffield United inserted into their sale of Ramsdale more than three years ago.

Cherries turned down an offer of around £12million for their player of the season last week, believing it fell well below their valuation for the 22-year-old.

But they have now agreed to let the goalkeeper leave.

Ramsdale has just enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, making his competitive debut for the Dorset club on the opening day of the Premier League season in August 2019, against Sheffield United.

He went on to play all-but-one of Cherries' top-flight matches as they were relegated into the Championship.

Discussing the decision to turn down the Blades' initial offer for Ramsdale, Cherries boss Jason Tindall said: "We didn't think it met our valuation of Aaron.

"I think you want to try and keep as many of your best players as possible and Aaron would be no different.

"Nathan Ake has just gone to Man City and would I have liked to keep Nathan Ake? For sure. But when a club Man City come calling for you, players like that go with your blessing.

"I know Aaron is a Sheffield boy, he's from that way and Sheffield United are in the Premier League."