No Stags return for midfield loan ace Whiteman

Parent club Sheffield United have announced they plan to offer the 20-year-old a new contract before loaning him to a League One club next season.

Manager Chris Wilder confirmed talks with the midfielder and his representative have reached an advanced stage after he impressed coaching staff at Bramall Lane during his time with the Stags.

“Ben did really well there (at Field Mill) and that didn’t go unnoticed by us,” Wilder said.

“We want to get him tied down and then get him out somewhere in League One. We think that would be great for his development. “The same goes for the other young lads here too because we think they’ve got bright futures going forward here with us.”

Along with Whiteman, Stags had Jake Kean, Hayden White, Shaq Coulthirst and Kyle Howkins in on loan, but assistant manager Paul Raynor said the club would take a couple of weeks to see who was available before deciding whether the wanted to try to get any of those players back for next season.

“Talks are in place,” he said. “They all played their part and we were delighted with them.

“But let’s see what’s out there and where we are in a couple of weeks time.”