BURNLEY are expected to complete the signing of striker Billy Sharp from Sheffield United next week.

The Clarets, who have already added former Hull midfielder Dean Marney and ex-Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo to their squad, are preparing to step up their recruitment drive after the weekend, when manager Brian Laws returns from holiday.

And being reunited with Sharp, who he worked with at Scunthorpe United, is top of the Burnley boss’s ‘to do’ list as he bids to add even more firepower to their Championship assault.

Laws is understood to be ready to offer at least 10 times more than the £100,000 he originally shelled out for the Sheffield-born frontman, when he signed him from then League Two side Rushden and Diamonds in 2005.

Sharp spent two seasons with the Iron, where he broke a 45-year-old club record for most goals scored in a season, finishing his final term with 32.

Such blistering form led to him returning to his first club, Sheffield United, for a fee of £2million. But, despite scoring his first hat-trick in the opening home game of the 2008/09 campaign, the goals have not been frequent enough at Bramall Lane and Sharp has struggled to establish himself.

However, a previously formidable strike rate was rekindled during a loan spell at Doncaster Rovers last season, where he averaged almost a goal every two games.

Should Sharp sign, it is likely he, Martin Paterson and Iwelumo will form a three-pronged attack.