Socceroos forward Harry Kewell is on the verge of putting an
end to recent transfer speculation by pledging his future to
Leeds United in a deal worth $160,000 a week.
Leeds Chairman Peter Ridsdale has reportedly told Kewell's
management that he is willing to pay whatever it takes to keep
the 24-year-old at Elland Road, with a contract said to worth
$8million over four years on the table.
Already the highest-paid player at the club, Kewell has been
linked with possible moves to either Spain, Italy and recently
Liverpool, but a reluctance to move from Yorkshire, where he and
his young family are settled, is believed to have helped Leeds'
chances of keeping him.
Ridsdale has concluded that the sale of Lee Bowyer to West Ham
and loaned Olivier Dacourt to Roma should slash the wage bill
enough to increase Kewell's earning capacity.
And with striker Robbie Fowler and defender Gary Kelly also said
to be available for transfer and midfielder Seth Johnson
targeted by Middlesbrough, the Elland Road club could
significantly cut the debt by the end of January.
Once Ridsdale has reduced the club's debts with further sales in
the coming weeks, he and Kewell's manager Bernie Mandic will
then re-open negotiations.
Meanwhile, Birmingham's Stan Lazaridis could be the next Aussie
international at Leeds after a proposed swap move with Michael
Duberry.
Another Aussie in Terry Venables' sights is Basel midfielder
Scott Chipperfield, although the two-time National Soccer League
player of the year is yet to be contacted by the Premiership
side. |
