....HE'S NOT FOR SALE
By Matt Reeder
MANCHESTER UNITED made a cheeky approach to sign Leeds skipper Rio Ferdinand before the World Cup.
Old Trafford chief executive Peter Kenyon approached Peter Ridsdale at an end-of-season Premier League bash in Leicester in May.
The Leeds chairman responded with a firm 'He is not for sale' and has since revealed that he wants to re-build the team around the £35m-rated England hero.
However, talk of a proposed switch to Lancashire has refused to go away despite the club's protests and Ferdinand's insistence that he wants to stay at Elland Road.
His performances during the World Cup were nothing short of sensational as England progressed through the Group of Death before losing out to Brazil in the quarter-finals.
A host of continental clubs are understood to have joined the list of admirers but, as yet, there have been no official bids for the player.
Ridsdale, who has already rebuffed United once, is keen to hang onto the man he paid £18m for less than two years ago but is now seeking assurances from the player himself.
There is little doubt that Ferdinand will have been under pressure from the Manchester United players within the England set-up, who will have been urging him to quit Leeds and sign for the Red Devils. But Ridsdale hopes that the player's loyalty to Leeds will see him stay.
Talk of former Reds player Jaap Stam coming in as a replacement to Ferdinand was today rejected by the club who would not be keen to spend £10m on a 30-year-old player.
The uncertainty over Ferdinand's future has left supporters greatly concerned about the future of their club. Supporters' chief Ray Fell has called on Ridsdale to put an end to the the speculation.
"It's been a difficult summer and the fans need reassuring," Fell said today. "What Rio has said is, but I think the club need to make a formal statement.
"I keep hearing that no bids have been made, but the story just won't go away and the fans deserve to know what the situation is."
By Matt Reeder
MANCHESTER UNITED made a cheeky approach to sign Leeds skipper Rio Ferdinand before the World Cup.
Old Trafford chief executive Peter Kenyon approached Peter Ridsdale at an end-of-season Premier League bash in Leicester in May.
The Leeds chairman responded with a firm 'He is not for sale' and has since revealed that he wants to re-build the team around the £35m-rated England hero.
However, talk of a proposed switch to Lancashire has refused to go away despite the club's protests and Ferdinand's insistence that he wants to stay at Elland Road.
His performances during the World Cup were nothing short of sensational as England progressed through the Group of Death before losing out to Brazil in the quarter-finals.
A host of continental clubs are understood to have joined the list of admirers but, as yet, there have been no official bids for the player.
Ridsdale, who has already rebuffed United once, is keen to hang onto the man he paid £18m for less than two years ago but is now seeking assurances from the player himself.
There is little doubt that Ferdinand will have been under pressure from the Manchester United players within the England set-up, who will have been urging him to quit Leeds and sign for the Red Devils. But Ridsdale hopes that the player's loyalty to Leeds will see him stay.
Talk of former Reds player Jaap Stam coming in as a replacement to Ferdinand was today rejected by the club who would not be keen to spend £10m on a 30-year-old player.
The uncertainty over Ferdinand's future has left supporters greatly concerned about the future of their club. Supporters' chief Ray Fell has called on Ridsdale to put an end to the the speculation.
"It's been a difficult summer and the fans need reassuring," Fell said today. "What Rio has said is, but I think the club need to make a formal statement.
"I keep hearing that no bids have been made, but the story just won't go away and the fans deserve to know what the situation is."
) saw Risdale at the airport yesterday. He asked him what was happening, Risdale said don't worry about it.