Wages and fitness put Smith’s return in doubt

The 30-year-old has been told by Newcastle United that he can leave despite having a year of his £60,000-per-week contract at St James’ Park still to run.

Smith, who has operated mainly as a central midfielder in recent years, made just seven Premier League starts last season and is believed to be available on a free transfer.

Grayson is a long-time admirer of the one-time striker, as the United manager revealed last January when he confirmed that the club would definitely be interested if Smith became available.

That thinking has not changed with the Yorkshire Post understanding the Leeds chief remains keen on signing a player who left Elland Road seven years ago to join Manchester United.

On the possibility of Smith returning to West Yorkshire this summer, Bates said: “It depends on whether Simon wants him, which is his decision.

“We have to be careful because he has had a poor injury record and what we can’t afford to do is sign someone who can’t play. We have at least eight more matches than in the Premiership. The other thing is his wages.

“He has been at Manchester United and Newcastle so his wages are in a stratosphere, probably well over the seven-figure medium. So, if he did join us he would have to knock a nought off and maybe halve it.

“But nothing is certain and nothing is uncertain. I can confirm we are continuing our quest for the right players and if he is fit Alan would certainly be a good addition to our squad, but that would need further investigation and consideration by Simon.”

Smith’s agent Alex Black could not be contacted last night.

If Leeds do pursue a move for the former England international, supporter opinion is likely to be split with his switch to Old Trafford having turned the former darling of the terraces into a hate figure in many supporters’ eyes.

During his last game for Leeds against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, he was jeered and fans sang ‘You sign for scum, you don’t come back’ at their one-time hero.

Grayson, however, insisted last January that the reaction from the terraces would not influence whether he made a move for Smith or not.

The Leeds manager said: “Whatever signing you make, fans have different opinions on things. That would be the case if bringing any ex-player to the club, whether it is Alan Smith, Jonathan Woodgate, Harry Kewell or any of the others who left.

“I will sign players, not based on that, but what they can do for the club in the future.”

Chairman Bates, meanwhile, has issued a firm hands-off message to clubs looking to prise United’s star players away.

Robert Snodgrass was last week the subject of a £3.5m bid from Premier League newcomers Norwich City, while Max Gradel has also been linked with a switch to the top flight since the end of the season.

Bates, who declined to elaborate on who had been the subject of enquiries, said: “They have been told to put them (the bids) where the sun don’t shine.

“I am not surprised we have had offers. We have six current internationals in the team. It indicates the quality of the squad we have got.

“We are happy with our strikers. It is the defence and midfield we need to strengthen. Bradley Johnson and Neil Kilkenny are moving on because we need better.”

Johnson this week joined Norwich on a three-year deal after turning down a contract offer from Leeds, while Kilkenny is interesting Hull City.

The Tigers rate the Australian international highly and are understood to have made an enquiry, though their No 1 midfield target remains Crystal Palace’s soon-to-be out of contract Neil Danns.

Kilkenny, whose deal at Leeds expires at the end of this month, is currently away on international duty and the chase for his signature is expected to hot up when he returns later this week.

United did offer the 25-year-old a new contract around the turn of the year but he turned that down, believing he was worth more than the £7,000 a week that was on the table.

Kilkenny has been a mainstay of the Leeds side since being signed by Dennis Wise in January 2008.

Should they miss out on Danns, Hull will face competition for Kilkenny from Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town and Bristol City.

Sources in the East Midlands have also indicated that Hull have made a firm bid of around £800,000 for Jack Hobbs, the defender who spent the final three months of last season on loan at the KC Stadium.

Leicester are yet to respond to the offer for the 22-year-old, though it is understood Foxes manager Sven Goran Eriksson is willing to sanction his sale.

Hull, meanwhile, have announced a new shirt sponsorship deal with Cash Converters that could, if the club win promotion back to the Premier League, be worth £1m.

The deal, which sees the firm replace totesport.com, is for two years with the option of a third written into the agreement.