Leeds United boss Grayson plays down Beckford link to Everton

Sources on Merseyside suggest that Beckford has already signed a pre-contract agreement with the Premier League club and is moving to Goodison Park as a free agent in the summer.

Everton manager David Moyes sat in the director's box at Elland Road on Tuesday night, when Leeds played Carlisle United, adding further weight to the speculation.

When asked to comment, Grayson said: "Pre-contract agreements aren't binding so both parties could pull out at any time.

"If he bangs in another 20 goals, there might be bigger teams than Everton coming in for him." The signing of a pre-contract agreement may explain Beckford's decision to come off the transfer list last week.

Beckford, who has bagged 20 goals so far this season, is also wanted by Newcastle United but Leeds rejected a 1.5m offer for his services from the Championship club this month.

Leeds, meanwhile, have targeted Southend United's Lee Barnard as a possible successor to Beckford and have lodged a 175,000 bid with the Shrimpers.

Barnard, who was released by Tottenham Hotspur two summers ago, bagged 11 goals in 24 league starts last term and has 17 in all competitions so far this season.

Aged 25, Barnard spent five and- a-half years on the fringes of the first team at White Hart Lane but was loaned out to five different clubs – Exeter City, Stevenage, Leyton Orient, Northampton Town and Crewe Alexandra. It is understood that Southampton and Millwall are also chasing his signature.

Southend issued a statement yesterday denying reports that Barnard had already agreed to move to Elland Road.

"Following reports in a national newspaper this morning that Lee Barnard has transferred to Leeds United, Southend United can categorically deny that this rumour is true," it read. "Although there have been three interested parties in signing Lee during this transfer window, no offer has currently been accepted by the Football Club. At the moment, we fully expect Lee to be in the starting line-up for Saturday's game against Wycombe Wanderers".

Leeds manager Grayson has still not admitted defeat in his bid to bring winger Max Gradel back to the club from Leicester City.

Gradel impressed during a three-month loan at Leeds but Leicester manager Nigel Pearson is reluctant to let him go again.

"Talks are ongoing," said Grayson. "He's Leicester's player, they were good enough to let him come here for a period, and we're talking with them.

"I would like to bring in maybe one or two faces and there could be one or two go," he added.

"Hopefully, by the time the window shuts, we might have a few fresh faces for the final push, but as I've always said, I'll only do something if I believe it is right for us and not just for the sake for it." Former Leeds striker David Healy, meanwhile, has issued a 'come and get me' plea after admitting that he has no future at Sunderland.

Healy spent three years at Elland Road and was a crowd favourite before being sold to Fulham in the wake of the club's relegation to League One.

"I know my future is not going to be at Sunderland," he said.

"And I'm more than willing to go back to the Championship and get back to enjoying my football again. If there was a club I was ever going to go back to play for, it would be Leeds. I have huge affection for the club."