Reluctant Kasper set for £1.5m reunion with Sven

LEEDS UNITED will step up their attempts to lure No 1 target Keiren Westwood to Elland Road after accepting a bid from Leicester City for Kasper Schmeichel.

The Elland Road club first spoke to Coventry City’s out-of-contract goalkeeper during the final few months of last season after it emerged he was unlikely to sign a new deal at the Ricoh Arena.

Simon Grayson has been a big admirer of the 26-year-old Republic of Ireland international for some time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sunderland are understood to have also been in talks with Westwood over a possible move to the Premier League with sources in the North East indicating a deal could be imminent.

However, following yesterday’s decision to accept Leicester’s £1.5m bid for Schmeichel, Leeds will step up their bid to land the highly-rated former Carlisle United goalkeeper.

Schmeichel’s imminent departure to be reunited with Sven Goran Eriksson at the Walkers Stadium means United, who released Shane Higgs at the end of last season, have no senior goalkeepers on the books.

On the decision to accept Eriksson’s offer, Grayson said: “We feel this is the right deal for the club. We spoke to Kasper’s agent at the end of the season about a contract extension and it was apparent that it was going to be a difficult deal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Given the fact he has one year remaining on his contract, we feel this is in the best interests of Leeds United.”

Schmeichel moved to Elland Road on a free transfer last summer from Notts County, where he played under former England coach Eriksson, and went on to make 40 appearances as Leeds finished seventh in the Championship.

Schmeichel said: “I want to put on record that I have never asked to leave Leeds United, nor did I reject an offer for a new contract, since one was never put to me.

“Therefore it is with great disappointment that I have learned that Leeds United have accepted an offer from Leicester.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I was enjoying being a Leeds United player and was looking forward to winning promotion this season with the club.

“I have spoken to the manager Simon Grayson and he has made it clear to me, that, in spite of having played well for him, this is something he believes is a good deal for Leeds United.

“I have been put in a very difficult situation and will spend some time considering my options for my future.”

As willing as Grayson is to let Schmeichel go, he has also reaffirmed United’s commitment to hanging on to Robert Snodgrass amid continued interest from Premier League newcomers Norwich City.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Canaries manager Paul Lambert has made two bids for Snodgrass since the end of last season, the second of which is believed to have been for around £3.5m. Both were rejected.

Despite being knocked back, Norwich are believed to be weighing up an increased offer for a player who was twice named the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month last term.

Grayson, however, has warned both Lambert and any other managers interested in Snodgrass, who has two years left on his contract, that Leeds want to keep the Scotland international in West Yorkshire.

Leeds are yet to enter the summer transfer market despite talks having taken place with a number of possible targets, including Jonathan Woodgate and Alan Smith.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Former German international Torsten Frings, who is a free agent after leaving Werder Bremen, is another believed to be on the Leeds radar along with Sheffield United’s Nick Montgomery.

Grayson wants any signings to start the season alongside the likes of Snodgrass and Max Gradel, who is interesting Premier League sides, including Fulham and Swansea.

However, he has pledged to be flexible in terms of judging offers for his players on an individual basis – especially if the fee is such that it could then be used to bring in a couple of new faces.

“If we want to be successful then we have to keep hold of our best players and add to them,” he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Grayson says there has been no interest in Billy Paynter despite suggestions Sheffield United’s Danny Wilson had targeted the striker. He is expecting Paddy Kisnorbo, the Australian defender whose first appearance in 14 months came on the final day of last season, to report back to Thorp Arch for pre-season training on June 30 despite being linked with Brighton.

Leeds’s opening-day trip to Southampton has been put back to 5.20pm on August 6 to be shown live on Sky Television.