Skoko - who retired from the Australia national team at the Argentina match a fortnight ago - has only just signed a new contract with his current club Wigan Athletic.

But he has struggled to hold down a first team place this season.

Now Sheffield United boss Bryan Robson fancies bringing the Aussie midfielder to boost the Premiership quality of his side as they battle for promotion from the Championship.

According to the UK's Daily Mail, Robson is lining up a $2.5 million offer to Wigan in the January transfer window.

The move would see Skoko play alongside ex-Sydney star Carney who joined the Blades earlier this year.

Skoko has only started one game for Wigan this season, lining up in this weekend's defeat against Reading.

He ignored speculation about his future while talking to the club's official website but admitted he was upset by the team's performance.

"We're all very disappointed," Josip revealed. "We thought we deserved more there, we created a lot of chances and played very well but we conceded a couple of cheap goals and no points."

He added: "We created a few one hundred percenters, but that's foot ball you know, you don't put it in and it comes back and bites you up the other end."