Leeds Today: "VIDUKA SET FOR MOVE TO MAN UTD"
By PAUL DEWS
MANCHESTER UNITED'S top priority when the transfer window re-opens is to capture Leeds United striker Mark Viduka, the YEP can reveal.
The Old Trafford club are set to swoop for the Aussie ace by making cash-strapped Leeds a �5million offer next month.Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson is desperate to find a partner for Ruud van Nistelrooy and has identified Viduka as the missing piece in the jigsaw.Elland Road chief executive Trevor Birch insists no fire sales will be necessary in January, but he will have a fight on his hands if Viduka, asanticipated, confirms his desire to leave.It's understood that Leeds have already received a tentative enquiry from Old Trafford about Viduka's availability.Caretaker boss Eddie Gray would resist any approach for his star striker, but admits he won't be surprised when clubs come knocking on the Elland Road door.
Said Gray: 'You can never tell what happens with players. I'm sure Viduka is a player who will attract interest from other clubs. In an ideal world you would want to keep him. It's important you keep all your best players, but you have to be realistic enough to know that things change. Everybody in the game knows he is a world class striker - one of the best in the business - but it's something I'm not thinking about at the moment.'
The 28-year-old had a series of public rucks with former manager Peter Reid, but has shown an encouraging return to form since Gray took over the reins.Viduka and Gray appear to have struck up a good rapport - the player has responded by turning in a string of impressive performances since his arrival - and after training yesterday the pair were deep in conversation.
'He's in good form at the moment,' said Gray. 'He knows what he's about – he just gets on with it. I just tell him what I expect. He is a great player. He holds the ball up and brings people into the game. That's his job. I've got great faith in his ability. Anyone who has worked with him will know about his talents."
Inter Milan have a long held interest in the former Celtic star.
__________________________________________
Times Online - Newspaper Edition
Leeds defy low expectations
By Oliver Kay
Leeds United 1 Chelsea 1
THERE IS ONE COMPELLING REASON why a thirtysomething Russian, in desperate need of a new plaything to divert him from the monotony of making billions from the oil business, was drawn to to the Barclaycard Premiership. Some might bemoan its supposed predictability, but to outsiders such as Roman Abramovich and the wealthy sheikh who hopes to be Leeds United’s saviour, it is the league’s thrillingly capricious nature that makes it so appealing.
Abramovich could, presumably, have taken his billions to Italy and attempted to follow the example of Sergio Cragnotti, who bankrolled Lazio to their first Serie A title in a quarter of a century. Instead, as a man who prefers a calculated gamble, he was attracted to the Premiership and specifically to Chelsea, where there were no guaranteed returns to his investment, rather than Manchester United, where the risk factor would have been considerably lower.
As such, Abramovich has subjected himself to afternoons such as Saturday, when his glittering ensemble were frustrated by the doggedness of a Leeds team that had begun the day at the bottom of the table. It would not happen in other countries, or in other sports, but the most seductive quality of the Premiership is that there are no easy games — at least not now that Leeds are reinventing themselves under the temporary management of Eddie Gray.
The quality of Leeds’s performance should not be overstated, because their backs were against the wall for the duration of a desperate second half, but as a statement of intent for the rest of the season and as an illustration of why the haves will not always overcome the have-nots, it was impressive. Leeds certainly made life difficult for Chelsea, but as Claudio Ranieri and his players recognise, so will every opponent now that they are the team to be beaten in the Premiership.
It is to Chelsea’s immense credit that so few have succeeded thus far. Ranieri was asked whether, after seeing Damien Duff cancel out Jermaine Pennant’s superb opening goal for Leeds, a draw represented two points dropped or one gained. The answer, as he said, will not become clear until the end of the season, but Chelsea’s performance in the second half, which saw them dominate their highly competitive opponents, illustrated for the umpteenth time this season that he has assembled a team rich in substance as well as style.
Leeds, who less than two years ago looked down on Chelsea from the summit of the Premiership, are virtually devoid of style these days, but Gray has sought to bring back what Yorkshire grit remains in a depleted squad. Nine of their starting line-up on Saturday figured, however marginally, in the squad that reached the European Cup semi-finals in 2001, but their mission now is concerned with nothing more than survival.
With Dominic Matteo and Alan Smith warming to the unfamiliar task of bringing their resolute qualities to the centre of midfield, Gray found room in the starting line-up for just one of the seven players whom Peter Reid, the former manager, signed on loan in the summer, but it was telling that the one should be Pennant, the sole Briton among them. “The players I’ve picked all know the importance of staying in the Premiership,” Gray said.
Pennant gave Leeds a scarcely believable lead on 18 minutes, seizing on an error by Claude Makelele before embarking on a slalom run past three defenders and lifting the ball over Carlo Cudicini. It was the least Leeds deserved for an aggressive, if occasionally fractious first-half display, which could have brought them far more than yellow cards. Chelsea, for a time, were looking every bit the stereotypical southern softies.
The second half, though, brought a different spectacle, with Chelsea camped deep in opposition territory. The home team’s determination was summed up by a desperate scramble in which Paul Robinson, Lucas Radebe and Matteo blocked goalbound efforts, but they could not hold out, Duff following up from close range after the Leeds goalkeeper had denied Adrian Mutu.
The result provided satisfaction for Trevor Birch, the Leeds chief executive, who, in his previous job, was instrumental in bringing Abramovich to Stamford Bridge. Finding a buyer for Leeds will be a far tougher proposition in their present state, but this performance will have done his prospects no harm at all.
Leeds United (4-5-1): P Robinson 7 — G Kelly 5, L Radebe 6, M Duberry 6, I Harte 5 — J Pennant 7, A Smith 5, D Matteo 7, S McPhail 5 (sub: D Domi, 64min 4), J Milner 5 (sub: Seth Johnson, 63 5) — M Viduka 5. Substitutes not used: J Morris, M Bridges, S Carson. Booked: Smith, Radebe, Matteo. NEXT: Birmingham (h). FORM: DWLLLL
Chelsea (4-3-1-2): C Cudicini 5 — M Melchiot 6, W Gallas 6, J Terry 7, W Bridge 5 — F Lampard 6, C Makelele 5, J Cole 4 (sub: H Crespo, 46 4) — D Duff 6 — J F Hasselbaink 5 (sub: J Gronkjaer, 75), A Mutu 6. Substitutes not used: N Sullivan, M Desailly, Gérémi. Booked: Hasselbaink, Mutu. NEXT: Bolton (h). FORM: DWWWWW
Shots on target: (h) 5 (a) 11. Fouls: (h) 14 (a) 11. Offsides: (h) 2 (a) 2
__________________________________________
BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | Leeds dismiss takeover talk: "Leeds dismiss takeover talk
Leeds say reports that an imminent buyer will ease their financial troubles is "pure speculation".
The Elland Road club are £78m in debt and warned last week they are on the brink of administration. Fans' hopes were lifted over the weekend when Sheikh Abdul bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa of Bahrain said he was trying to broker a deal for a consortium of Middle Eastern businessmen to takeover the club. He claimed a "positive outcome" was likely in the next week or so, something Leeds United plc dismissed.
Their statement to the Stock Exchange read: "The board of Leeds United plc notes recent press reports about a potential bid for the company. The board wishes to make it clear that it has received no bid approach from any party and therefore regards the reports as pure speculation."
Initial reports on Saturday suggested that Sheikh Abdul Rahman would complete the takeover of the Premiership club within a week.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman, a member of Bahrain's royal family, told Bahrain daily newspaper Al-Ayam that was "complete nonsense" but said he was acting as a broker between the club and Middle Eastern investors.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman said: "I have close ties with club president John McKenzie, who updates me with the financial situation at the club. Anything more than that is just complete nonsense. I am hopeful in bringing out a positive outcome in the next 10 days to come. I have suggested to start negotiations with some of the main investors in the Gulf region in order to buy the club," he added. "It is my honour to help out the club passing through this critical phase, now that they are threatened to get relegated from the Premiership. Negotiations with various parties in the Gulf region are still undergoing and I feel happy to be the main broker in this respect. All in all, I am hopeful in bringing out a positive outcome in the next 10 days to come."
__________________________________________
BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | Leeds dismiss takeover talk: "Leeds dismiss takeover talk
Leeds say reports that an imminent buyer will ease their financial troubles is "pure speculation".
The Elland Road club are £78m in debt and warned last week they are on the brink of administration. Fans' hopes were lifted over the weekend when Sheikh Abdul bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa of Bahrain said he was trying to broker a deal for a consortium of Middle Eastern businessmen to takeover the club. He claimed a "positive outcome" was likely in the next week or so, something Leeds United plc dismissed.
Their statement to the Stock Exchange read: "The board of Leeds United plc notes recent press reports about a potential bid for the company. The board wishes to make it clear that it has received no bid approach from any party and therefore regards the reports as pure speculation."
Initial reports on Saturday suggested that Sheikh Abdul Rahman would complete the takeover of the Premiership club within a week.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman, a member of Bahrain's royal family, told Bahrain daily newspaper Al-Ayam that was "complete nonsense" but said he was acting as a broker between the club and Middle Eastern investors.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman said: "I have close ties with club president John McKenzie, who updates me with the financial situation at the club. Anything more than that is just complete nonsense. I am hopeful in bringing out a positive outcome in the next 10 days to come. I have suggested to start negotiations with some of the main investors in the Gulf region in order to buy the club," he added. "It is my honour to help out the club passing through this critical phase, now that they are threatened to get relegated from the Premiership. Negotiations with various parties in the Gulf region are still undergoing and I feel happy to be the main broker in this respect. All in all, I am hopeful in bringing out a positive outcome in the next 10 days to come."
__________________________________________
BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | Leeds dismiss takeover talk
Leeds say reports that an imminent buyer will ease their financial troubles is "pure speculation".
The Elland Road club are £78m in debt and warned last week they are on the brink of administration. Fans' hopes were lifted over the weekend when Sheikh Abdul bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa of Bahrain said he was trying to broker a deal for a consortium of Middle Eastern businessmen to takeover the club. He claimed a "positive outcome" was likely in the next week or so, something Leeds United plc dismissed.
Their statement to the Stock Exchange read: "The board of Leeds United plc notes recent press reports about a potential bid for the company. The board wishes to make it clear that it has received no bid approach from any party and therefore regards the reports as pure speculation."
Initial reports on Saturday suggested that Sheikh Abdul Rahman would complete the takeover of the Premiership club within a week.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman, a member of Bahrain's royal family, told Bahrain daily newspaper Al-Ayam that was "complete nonsense" but said he was acting as a broker between the club and Middle Eastern investors.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman said: "I have close ties with club president John McKenzie, who updates me with the financial situation at the club. Anything more than that is just complete nonsense. I am hopeful in bringing out a positive outcome in the next 10 days to come. I have suggested to start negotiations with some of the main investors in the Gulf region in order to buy the club," he added. "It is my honour to help out the club passing through this critical phase, now that they are threatened to get relegated from the Premiership. Negotiations with various parties in the Gulf region are still undergoing and I feel happy to be the main broker in this respect. All in all, I am hopeful in bringing out a positive outcome in the next 10 days to come."
__________________________________________
