Beckford and/or Nugent - To Bolton?

or WBA - If Leeds agreed to sell...Meanwhile his value goes up (although his contract expires). Just one we missed out on several years ago.


Yorkshire Evening Post
Leeds United: We can't put a price on Becks declares Simon Grayson



« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryPublished Date: 20 August 2009
By Phil Hay
Simon Grayson today admitted he will be pleased when the closure of the transfer window silences the rumour mill fixed on Jermaine Beckford and removes any possibility of a major, irrefusable bid landing for the irrepressible striker.
Leeds United's manager was forced to clarify Beckford's position yet again after the 25-year-old produced a winning goal of high quality in Tuesday night's League One game at Walsall, and he is looking forward to a concerted break from speculation abADVERTISEMENTout his premier goalscorer.

Beckford's form in the early weeks of this season has been a continuation of the 2008-09 term, when he produced 34 goals in 42 matches, and it has done little to reduce the weight of interest in him.

He scored twice on the first day of the season and again in the final minutes at the Bescot Stadium, and Grayson was unsurprised to learn that numerous scouts were sent to Walsall to assess his talent.

Included in that group was a member of the scouting staff at West Bromwich Albion, the club most likely to make a late attempt to snatch Beckford from Elland Road, but Grayson vowed that any last-minute approaches would be met with the same disinterest that Leeds have shown since removing Beckford from the transfer list last month.

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English clubs have until midnight on Monday, September 1 to complete permanent transfers, leaving just 12 days to finalise their business.

And Grayson would welcome an end to the burning question of whether Beckford will be on United's books after the window closes at the start of next month.

"That will be good, but you can't stop the speculation," said Grayson, "Especially when he scores a goal like he did against Walsall.

"That's just going to put an extra nought on the end of his valuation.

"He showed his class again with the goal and that can be irreplaceable at times.

"But while he's under contract he'll remain our player, and the earliest Jermaine Beckford will leave this football club will be July 1 next year when his deal runs out."

West Brom's need for a new striker is more urgent than that, and the Championship club are continuing to monitor Beckford after making contact with Leeds about his availability last month.

Their approach came after Beckford was removed from the transfer list, greatly reducing the likelihood of a deal, and it was met with little encouragement from Leeds, though Albion did not test United's resolve with a serious offer.

It is understood that West Brom would be willing to pay in the region of £2m for Beckford, but that sum may still fall below United's valuation of a player who has scored 57 times since the start of the 2007-08 season.

West Brom are expected to raise substantial funds from the anticipated sale of Jonathan Greening to Premier League club Fulham, potentially providing the cash needed to tempt Leeds into a sale.

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/leedsunited/Leeds-United-We-can39t-put.5571595.jp

A package deal would be good: (And reduce our payroll): Agyemang, Borrowdale, Mahon and Paladini to Leeds