Leeds United are in for McCormack but Hull City may launch late offer

The 24-year-old has been told he can leave the Welsh club after falling down the pecking order following the arrival of Craig Bellamy last week.

Cardiff's stunning capture of Manchester City's Bellamy means McCormack, who has netted twice this season in three appearances from the bench, is behind the Welsh international, Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra in the pecking order of strikers.

It is also understood the Welsh club need to raise funds and cut the wage bill to help cover their share of Bellamy's reputed 90,000 per week wages.

The deal is, however, understood to be far from done with United only confirming a fee had been agreed after the player's agent, Willy McKay, had revealed the Yorkshire club's bid.

Leeds, who last night lost 2-1 at home to Leicester City in the Carling Cup second round after an 89th-minute penalty from the visitors' Steve Howard, may yet face competition from rival clubs in the Championship with Hull City manager Nigel Pearson a keen admirer of McCormack, whom sources in south Wales suggest is on around 7,000 per week.

It is understood, though, that the Tigers, who also bowed out of the Cup 2-1 last night as Marcus Bean hit a late goal for hosts Brentford, must offload at least one of their high-earners before adding to the squad at the KC Stadium.

Ipswich Town and Queens Park Rangers are also possible rivals after having enquired about the Scottish international, who is due in Leeds today for talks and a possible medical.

If United can push a deal through it would represent a major coup, especially as the fee agreed with Cardiff is appearance-related and substantially below the 1m Hull offered as an upfront payment 12 months ago when Phil Brown was manager of the Premier League club.

The transfer could have earned the Bluebirds up to 3.5m but the Welsh club wanted a bigger guaranteed payment for a striker who had netted 21 Championship goals in the 2008-09 season.

Portsmouth also had a similar offer rejected by the Cardiff board a year ago.

United have also been fined 7,500 after being found guilty of failing to control their players in the Championship draw at Nottingham Forest earlier this month.

The Elland Road club have also been warned as to their future conduct following the second half bust-up that followed Forest defender Chris Gunter stamping on Sanchez Watt.

Forest have also been fined 12,500 for their part in the mellee on August 15, and Gunter will serve a three-game ban.

United manager Grayson had been fiercely critical of referee Tony Bates for brandishing a yellow card to both Watt and Gunter after order had been restored.

The Leeds chief felt the official and his two linesman had been guilty of missing a blatant stamp – an offence that would have seen Forest have to play the final stages with 10 men.

In response, home manager Billy Davies claimed the original stamp had been committed by Watt – though replays suggested the contact was accidental, an opinion borne out by the FA subsequently not charging the Arsenal loanee.