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January 24, 2003
(Friday)
Venables battles
for Woodgate
A FAMILIAR pattern is
starting to be weaved within Elland Road and it
is one which promises to bring nothing but disappointment for Leeds
United's supporters.
Just as Rio Ferdinand
was being courted by David Beckham and the rest
of the Manchester United lads during the World Cup, Jonathan Woodgate
now seems to be the subject of a similar operation in Newcastle.
Kieron Dyer, a big
friend of the central defender, is understood to
have spent the last few weeks paving the way for Woodgate's move to
St James' Park. Indeed, he has done such a good job that the player
is now set on making a move back to his native North East.
It was Beckham's
persuasive tongue which finally made up Ferdinand's
mind that he needed to be playing at Old Trafford and the player
eventually handed in a transfer request. It is not beyond the realms
of possibility that, unless a deal is struck between the two clubs
soon, Woodgate will follow the same path with a request of his own.
Newcastle manager Sir
Bobby Robson admitted this week that he wanted
to sign both Woodgate and Leeds's Brazilian target Kleberson in a
double swoop likely to cost them £15m.
Magpies chairman
Freddy Shepherd was in Sao Paolo last night meeting
with Kleberson and his club Atletico Paranaense and it now seems that
they are favourites to clinch the signing of a player who was seen as
Terry Venables's No 1 target.
Kleberson himself is
leaning towards a move to the North East after
seeking out advice from his Brazilian team-mate Ronaldo who used to
play under Robson at PSV Eindhoven.
The delegation are
due back in England today and will seek immediate
talks with Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale about a £10m move for
Woodgate.
Manager Venables may
be outraged by the prospect of losing another
star name, but it seems his protests will once again fall on deaf
ears.
With Seth Johnson
likely to complete his move to Middlesbrough in the
next 24 hours it seems the manager is powerless to stop the exodus.
If he does grow tired of the situation and decides that enough is
enough then no one would blame him for walking away.
He has had no idea
about who might stay or who might go in the
transfer market since it re-opened in January and his plans to re-
build are in tatters.
One man who will not
be coming to Leeds as his replacement, however,
is Celtic's Martin O'Neill.
Understood to have
been a target for the United plc board once again,
he has pledged his future north of the border for another 12 months
on what has been described as a rolling contract.
It seems Venables is
Leeds's best option and maybe Ridsdale had
better accept that before it is too late and he loses him.
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