More signings to follow says Leeds boss McDermott

United have beaten off interest from several Championship rivals to sign 6ft 6in forward Smith, who will join the club on a two-year deal on July 1 after coming to the end of his contract at Boundary Park.

After landing Smith – his first signing as Whites manager – McDermott is putting the finishing touches to a second deal, which could be announced shortly.

McDermott told the YEP: “We are still talking and getting closer to a few other deals. I am very close to another one.

“We are getting close to verbally agreeing another deal and are inches away. My view is that once I have verbally agreed a deal, it’s a deal.

“If the person decides that they want to sign somewhere else after they have verbally agreed a deal, then they can go. Because you would not want that person anyway.

“For me, a verbal deal and a shake of hands and it’s done.

“Hopefully, we will get the deals done as quick as we can. (But) if we can’t get them done until July, we will wait until July.”

The former Reading manager revealed last week that United had submitted offers for four players and were busy finalising approaches for further targets .

The club have been strongly linked with several players including former Royals striker Noel Hunt and Bolton Wanderers defender Matt Mills, McDermott’s former captain at the Madejski Stadium.

The first piece in the jigsaw has now arrived with the signing of Smith, who turned 24 on Friday, with McDermott insisting the deal was a ‘no-brainer’.

McDermott, who revealed he raced back from a Robbie Williams concert at Wembley in the early hours of yesterday morning to be present at the unveiling of Smith, said: “Matt has an aggressive style about him and is a handful. You ask David Moyes about him when he was at Everton and Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool. Matt caused them all sorts of problems in the cup games for Oldham last season.

“He also got the League One player of the month award for April at Oldham and I have no qualms about looking at players in that league.

“I just felt it was an absolute no-brainer for us to do. Although I was a bit upset I didn’t see Robbie Williams’ last song though!”

He added: “I know the agent of Matt quite well and we have done a few deals (in the past). We did a deal when Dave Kitson left Cambridge United and it’s a similar sort of scenario with Matt.

“Matt has a similar background to Dave and has worked for a living and been through university. He appreciates what he does for a living in terms of coming into work and training every day and playing football.

“That appeals to me. He’s also different at 6ft 6in and he did really well in the cups against Liverpool and Everton and when we were watching him at the back end of the season.

“He’s just been developing as a player more than anything. He can hold the ball up and win headers and he’s a player with potential who is hungry as well.

“I have dipped into the leagues below to try and find players who I think can play at a level above before and don’t have a problem with that. We believe Matt can do that.

“He’s a good acquisition to the club in terms of what he brings to us.

“I made sure I met Matt quite early. I have been talking to his agent a lot in the past month, which is what you have to do.

“I also wanted to be here in the morning (Monday) to meet him and make sure he was looked after. He’s a nice lad and I am sure he will be great for us.”