Leeds finally close in on Stephen Warnock

A deal to bring Warnock in from Aston Villa took a big step forward as Leeds’ offer of an 18-month contract scuppered a bid by West Ham United to sign the 31-year-old left-back.

West Ham believed they had secured Warnock’s services after approaching him over the weekend but manager Sam Allardyce revealed that a “more long-term” proposal from a side in the Championship had tempted the defender to drop down a division.

Leeds and Villa have spent the past 24 hours attempting to agree the terms of Warnock’s departure but Villa have made no secret of their desire to remove his £40,000-a-week salary from their wage bill.

Warnock’s deal in Birmingham expires at the end of June and he is expected to leave on a free transfer.

The former Liverpool player has been twice capped by England but his career faltered after a move to Villa in 2009 and he completed the first half of this season on loan at Bolton Wanderers.

Leeds were initially interested in signing him on a temporary basis but the club tabled a more substantial offer after seeing West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers join the bidding.

West Ham are believed to have proposed signing Warnock for the remainder of this season.

Allardyce said: “(A transfer) was a goer but another club in the Championship have made him a more long-term offer and he’s decided to take it.”

Leeds have used Aidan White at left-back for the past two games but the loss of Adam Drury to injury and Lee Peltier’s selection in the centre of defence reduced their options at left-back.

A deal with Warnock would give Leeds boss Neil Warnock his first signing since his acquisition of midfielder Ross Barkley on loan from Everton on January 11 and United are anticipating a hectic conclusion to the transfer window.

The Elland Road side are in the market for a striker and a winger and their dealings in the last two days of the month are still likely to be dictated in part by the fate of Luciano Becchio, pictured right.

United are still to agree a deal to sell their 19-goal forward, despite multiple bids from abroad and firm expressions of interest from unnamed English clubs.

Becchio is understood to favour a move to Turkey and Leeds will allow him to leave if another club meets their valuation, rumoured to be around £3million.

The 29-year-old submitted a transfer request last week and was left out of United’s thrilling FA Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.