Leeds after Ayala

[Mark]

Leeds United has lined up Valencia's Roberto Ayala as a replacement for Rio Ferdinand.
Ferdinand is expected to move to Manchester United for £35 million and Leeds are expected to use the money to fund a move for Argentina skipper Ayala - ironically a long-term target for United.

Spanish reports say Ayala's agent, Gustavo Mascardi, is due in Valencia this week to discuss a Leeds bid of £10 million for the centre-half.

Ayala is currently unhappy with the Liga club as he is still waiting on a bonus promised last season by officials.

[Tony2]

It's not that we're running out of cash but...department.
The club have announced that they will be reducing the headcount of
the non-playing staff by nearly 10% in order to save about half a
million quid a year. A spokesman said: "We have been looking
critically at our structure, looking at the best way we can
operate and we have come to the conclusion we can be leaner
and more efficient. We are a public company with an obligation
to make profits if we can. We don't have the kind of money we
would receive from the Champions League this year, unless we
have a really good run in the UEFA Cup." If possible the 19
jobs will go through natural wastage, not filling open positions
or resignations and existing staff will be redeployed where
possible - but compulsory redundancies can't be ruled out and
the staff have been told their positions are under review as
required by employment law

what with DOL now begging PR not to sell Rio and this above do you really expect Leeds to BUY anybody.

[Mark]

well if u sell Rio who's gonna be ur central defender then?

[Tony2]

If we sell rio there will be hell at Elland road anyway

[GBB]

Don't you know O'Leary has just left by 'mutual consent' the resignation probably went something like this:

O'Leary: "If you sell Rio I'm out"

Risdale: "Ok... bye"

[Mark]

Don't you know O'Leary has just left by 'mutual consent' the resignation probably went something like this:

O'Leary: "If you sell Rio I'm out"

Risdale: "Ok... bye"but why do they wanna get rid of their best player :??? :???

[Tony2]

Official line was "Off field pressures" so now we see if the Board have their wallets or Leeds as their main interest, and a pound to a pinch of S**T gets you Rio, Dacourt, Keane and a few others will be gone soon now as well, seems the rumours of off field problems seem not so far fetched now!!!

In reply to your question Mark, it seems they would rather have a healthy bank account rather than a sucessfull football team

[GBB]

Don't you know O'Leary has just left by 'mutual consent' the resignation probably went something like this:

O'Leary: "If you sell Rio I'm out"

Risdale: "Ok... bye"but why do they wanna get rid of their best player :??? :???

Because they need the money.

[Tony2]

Roberto Ayala's agent says he is ready to open talks with Leeds should the Elland Road club have a change of heart and allow Rio Ferdinand to leave.

The Valencia defender - a target for Manchester United before they turned their attentions to Ferdinand - could be a ready-made replacement for the Leeds captain, who has had a transfer request turned down.

Agent Fernando Hidalgo jetted into England on Wednesday and although he insists there is no meeting planned, he admits that could change should Ferdinand depart for the Premiership champions as reported.

Hidalgo said: "I am going to England for many issues, there is no meeting with Leeds executives regarding Ayala, but I have a good relationship with Leeds and if they call me that is fine.

Could this have anything to do with what has happened today??

[Will]

£10 million. well we could only afford that if we sell Rio for some good money, and with Bowyer being a bit, well, a bit stubborn shall we say, we need money.

[Tony2]

Read somewhere today they are talking about 20 mill to buy him out of his contract. Valencia are a bit skint too so its reported

[caddy]

How can Valencia be skint they sold Mendieta for silly amounts and they do very well in the Champs League every year!!! Must be a s**t board!!