Leeds move for Tommy Rowe and ex-Arsenal starlet

LEEDS United have revived their interest in out-of-contract Peterborough midfielder Tommy Rowe – and are ready to take a chance on former Arsenal and Tottenham trainee Andre Blackman.
Tommy Rowe, right.Tommy Rowe, right.
Tommy Rowe, right.

Leeds are one of several clubs who have made contact with Rowe, a year after failing to prise him from Peterborough, and a decision on his future is expected to be made when he returns from holiday early next month.

United manager Brian McDermott made an approach for Rowe last summer at a time when the 25-year-old was on the transfer list at London Road having rejecting Peterborough’s offer of a new deal.

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A shortage of transfer cash prevented Leeds from making a formal bid for him but Rowe is a free agent after leaving Peterborough in the wake of their League One play-off defeat to Leyton Orient.

His nine goals helped Peterborough finish sixth in the final table.

League One champions Wolverhampton Wanderers are expected to offer Rowe a contract following their promotion to the Championship and at least three other clubs are interested in the left-sided midfielder, including one in the Premier League.

Blackman, however, is a more surprising target for United after chequered spells in England and Scotland forced the young left-back into non-league.

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The 23-year-old was an academy player at Arsenal, Spurs and Portsmouth and made his professional debut for Bristol City in 2009. Celtic signed him on after a trial two

years but after a short loan to Inverness, he left Glasgow under a cloud amid disciplinary issues.

Blackman played for Maidenhead United last season, a semi-professional side who finished 18th in Conference South. He has emerged as a possible signing for Leeds despite the presence of three other left-backs at Elland Road – Stephen Warnock, Aidan White and Charlie Taylor.

McDermott’s high opinion of Rowe is well known but he is not thought to have influenced the planned move for Blackman.

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United’s manager, whose strained relationship with Massimo Cellino could come to a head during a meeting at Elland Road on June 2, is still in the south of England and continues to have no verbal contact with United’s Italian owner.

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