Leeds striker Mark Viduka is poised to begin talks with Middlesbrough over a
move to the Riverside next week.
Boro's interest in the Australia international has long been known and they
remain the only club to have tabled an official offer for the 28-year-old.
Galatasaray did recently make a cheeky enquiry, asking to take Viduka on loan
next season, although they were willing to pay his £65,000-a-week wages and
£1.5million for the deal.
It was an arrangement that suited neither the club nor the player, as Leeds
remain in dire need of hard cash to ease their £60million debts and huge wage
bill and are hoping they can prise £4million out of any potential buyer.
Boro boss Steve McClaren now heads the queue for Viduka's services and is
desperate to land a proven goalscorer, in particular after being rebuffed by
another transfer target, Patrick Kluivert.
Viduka has scored 72 goals in 166 appearances for Leeds since his £6million
move from Celtic four years ago, with the 13 he scored last season in United's
relegation campaign - his lowest total - still four more managed by Boro's top
scorers in Juninho and Szilard Nemeth.
Viduka is currently at home in Australia recovering from back and hamstring
injuries sustained towards the end of last season, although he is due to return
at some stage next week.
That will pave the way for negotiations to begin, with agent Chris Page
confirming: "We will be assessing Boro's interest now that Leeds
have told us we can talk to them."
McClaren, though, is again likely to lose out for there is strong interest for
Viduka from several other clubs, including Roma and possibly Benfica, although
Valencia are now seemingly out of the running following the resignation
yesterday of coach Rafael Benitez.
But it is in Leeds' best interests to sell Viduka quickly, as well as other
stars such as Dominic Matteo, who is now understood to be interesting Everton,
as well as Fulham and Manchester City.
New boss Kevin Blackwell is chasing a number of transfer targets to strengthen
the squad ahead of next season's First Division campaign, and the 45-year-old is
eager for the money freed up by the wages to ensure he can make his own
signings.
Blackwell has a number of players in his sights, including Fulham striker
Barry Hayles, Wolves defender Paul Butler, Manchester City defender Danny
Tiatto, Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard and Coventry forward Julian Joachim.
Blackwell has already spoken with Gerrard and Joachim, and is planing to
conduct talks with the other proven trio.
He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "I'm hoping to speak to them in the
not-too-distant future.
"They are three players I am interested in and I have made enquiries about
them. They have all won the First Division title before with their respective
clubs and have played in the Premiership.
"I've been really encouraged by the response I've had. It shows people still
believe in the name of Leeds United and believe in the football club."
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