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December 10, 2002
(Tuesday)
Inter set for
Woody swoop
Leeds United are
poised to resist a sensational £20 million bid from
Inter Milan for star defender Jonathan Woodgate.
The Italian giants have lined up Woodgate to boost their twin push
for Serie A and Champions League glory, and will make their move when
the transfer window re-opens on January 1.
The centre-half has been one of the few players to have emerged from
the side's recent dreadful run with any credit.
But, with Terry Venables having been told by the board that he must
sell to raise any funds for new
signings, the Leeds boss is resigned to losing some of his top stars.
However, the United board are adamant that three players definitely
not for sale at any price are the home-grown spine of the team – Paul
Robinson, Woodgate and Alan Smith.
The club have persistently fended off approaches for 22-year-old
Woodgate since he burst onto the scene four years ago and, despite
debts of around £60m, have not changed their position amid the
current turmoil.
Leeds will give serious consideration to bids for any of their other
stars, giving Venables the cash he feels he needs to turn things
around – if he is still in a position to spend it in three weeks time.
Any money coming in will cancel out funds possibly needed to pay off
ex-boss David O'Leary, and also to settle a potential £1million
severance deal with Venables.
The Leeds boss moved closer to the end of the line on Saturday when
his side slipped to a comprehensive 1-0 defeat to Fulham – their 10th
loss in the first 17 games of the season.
It is the fourth time the club have lost 10 of the first 17 – and on
each of the other three occasions they have gone on to finish in one
of the bottom two.
The United board were understood to be meeting today to discuss
Venables' future. Venables has always maintained he inherited a squad
that needed radical re-structuring but, with 12 points still to play
for before the end of the year, chairman Peter Ridsdale may feel he
cannot risk giving him the time to do that.
Leeds have lost four league games on the bounce and could be in the
bottom three by the time any money becomes available – making it
almost impossible to attract the kind of players needed to turn their
season around.
The board may decide that is too big a risk to take and would replace
Venables with their number one target, Nottingham Forest manager Paul
Hart.
Hart has already been identified as the man they would like to see
taking over if Venables' 154-day reign is brought to a premature end.
However, no move will be made until after Thursday's vital UEFA Cup
third round second leg clash with
Malaga at Elland Road.
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No Inter-est for Woody
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Woodgate steps up to ease strain on Venebles
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