Closing door on exits vital part of transfer window for Leeds and Grayson

The Elland Road club will kick off the new season at Southampton on Saturday looking to improve on last term’s seventh-place finish.

As part of his attempts to propel United into the play-off places or higher, Grayson has not only brought in Andy Lonergan, Paul Rachubka and Michael Brown but also insisted that bids for several of his players be rejected.

He said: “Sometimes, it is not necessarily the ones you are trying to bring in that are the important thing but the ones you try and keep.

“We have made a conscious effort to turn down bids for Snodgrass and Gradel, along with the interest there has been in other players as well. We have shown our intentions by not selling them.

“We could have sold a few players, taken the money and then decided what to do next with it.

“But we decided at the start of the summer that the only sales would be ones in the interests of the club, as was the case with Kasper Schmeichel (who joined Leicester City in June).

“It is great that the club can turn offers down. A few years ago, that wasn’t the case.”

Gradel has been linked with a host of clubs this summer and was the subject of a £2.5m bid from West Ham, while Norwich’s offer was rejected for Snodgrass, who continues to attract interest from Wigan Athletic.

Grayson added: “They can fulfil their ambitions of getting into the Premier League here. I firmly believe that. Both lads have been good for Leeds and Leeds have been good for them.

“Snod was at Livingston and Max couldn’t get a game at Leicester but since getting here they have worked extremely hard to become better players.”

As for new arrivals, Grayson remains hopeful of adding to the three already made this summer.

He said: “I am hopeful we might be able to get something done. But I have said that a few times this summer.

“Ideally, I would like to do everything confidentially but unfortunately that is harder and harder in this day and age. It is why I don’t like commenting on players who might or might not come in.”