Leeds look to Ross McCormack for new deal

Speaking ahead of last night’s 1-1 draw with Sandefjord in Norway, McCormack revealed that he and the club were again looking to extend his deal and prevent him leaving Elland Road before the closure of the transfer window.

McCormack – United’s top scorer last season – was widely expected to be sold by Leeds this summer after turning down a previous contract offer in May, and Huddersfield Town, Crystal Palace and Bristol City have all expressed interest.

Blackburn Rovers could also be tempted to refocus their attention on a player linked with them after losing new signing Leon Best to a serious knee injury.

However, Leeds manager Neil Warnock seems increasingly reluctant to lose McCormack having failed to avert the £3million sale of Robert Snodgrass, another of United’s reliable goalscorers.

The two sides appear to be edging towards a compromise, with McCormack insisting his “first choice” would be to stay at Elland Road.

The extension of a deal which expires in June 2013 would remove the risk of Leeds losing the forward on a free transfer in 12 months’ time. McCormack, who scored twice in last week’s friendly at Torquay United, received the captain’s armband from Warnock in Norway last night and played out 68 minutes despite suffering a minor injury.

A 17th-minute header from Jason Pearce put Leeds on course for victory but Kristian Klepaker’s equaliser at the start of the second half earned Sandefjord a draw. Warnock’s line-up included out-of-contract defender Martin Cranie.

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