The Daily Mail today claimed that Rio Ferdinand would be a Leeds player by the end of the week. He will supposedly move to Elland Road in a deal worth £12 million: the promise of European Champions League football is said to be a major factor in his decision to join us from Upton Park.

However, yet again Peter Risdale has moved quickly to completely deny the story - saying the Mail's article was "pure speculation".

It would seem that when Dacourt is paraded next week, he may not have any other new signings alongside him, after all...unless you know otherwise, Mr Risdale ;-)

Ugo Ehiogu made it abundantly clear today that he does not see his future at Villa park and that he is desparate for a move over the summer.

This will no doubt attract the attention of O'leary, who is known to be an admirer of the big centre half.

At 27, he represents better value for money than both Ferdinand and Campbell. It is thought he would cost round about £6 million. However, no doubt should a bidding war commence, that figure would rise.

Following the quotations that appeared in today's Daily Mail, it is difficult to see how he could have any future at Villa Park. He says, "I need a new challenge to spark my career. I have been at Villa for nine years and I'm starting to feel stale.

"It's time for a change. I need to freshen up and find new direction. The thought of going back to the same surroundings and seeing the same faces doesn't excite me."

The only 'catch' might be that Spurs, Arsenal and a certain Manchester United are all thought to be interested in signing Ugo. So expect a battle royale to commence should O'Leary step up his interest!

Reports this weekend suggest that Marin O'Neill is very close to accepting the managerial vacancy at celtic - if he has not done so already!

When a new manager is in place, one of his first bits of business will be to sort out the future of striker Mark Viduka.

Rumours are still strong that the Aussie will end up at Elland Road by the end of the close season - and Leeds United World predicts that this will be the case. Remember...you heard it here first!

Brian Kidd has confirmed he will take up the post of head of the new Leeds Sporting Youth Development company over the next seven days.

It marks a major coup for United, acquiring the services of the man who brought through the likes of Beckham, Giggs and Scholes when he was in a similar post at Old Trafford.

It is being reported that Manchester United wanted him back in his original job but given the souring of relationship between Kidd and Alex Ferguson, it is perhaps rather unsurprising that he has decided to join us.

With Brazil set to take on England at Wembley tomorrow, some lazy tabloid hack has decided to regurgitate the story of our supposed interest in 20 year old 'wonderkid' Ronaldinho.

However, given O'Leary's oft quoted criteria on incoming players and the fact that when the story last broke, he was priced at £20 million, I wouldn't expect to hear the sounds of samba drums just yet!

Leeds yet again showed their uncanny ability to make a loss on almost every player they sell on, when they accepted a £500,000 bid from Austria Salzburg for Martin Hiden.

Hiden has been plagued by injuries, including a cruciate ligament problem, since his £1.3 million move from Austria Vienna. However, having recovered from injury and looking set to be ready for next season, I would have thought - at today's crazy prices - he might be worth more than £500,000!

Leeds have acted promptly to completely rubbish The Sun's claims that we were about to table a £20 million bid for Kevin Phillips of Sunderland. Chairman Peter Risdale described the rumours as "complete and utter rubbish."

Silly season on the transfer front is well and truly here! Not only is the figure quoted vastly overpriced, even for a striker as prolific as Phillips, but there is now way that we will pay out such a sum on a single player. We are not ready as a club to do so at present.

Also, when Bridges was at Sunderland, Reid didn't rate the pair as a partnership. That's why Michael was allowed to come to us last season.

The news eminating from Spain yesterday evening was that Jimmy Hasselbaink was set to leave Athletico Madrid to join Chelsea, in a deal worth almost £15 million.

It is understood that several other Spanish vlubs were interested in his services and that Jimmy would have been happy to stay. However, none could match his demands and the huge fee involved. Italian clubs, primarily Lazio, are also said to be willing over £15 million but the ex-United man would prefer a move back to England.

If he does move to Stamford Bridge, then it is to be hoped we aren't forced to watch him shooting Chelsea to silverware next season. It was bad enough having to go through that once a lifetime, with Cantona! Of course, such is the nature of modern football that these scenarios are bound to crop up even more over the next few years.

Leeds United World has been given a sneak preview of the design of the new Nike kit which will be available soon.

It's good to see that they've kept with a plain design and with the traditional colours for both home and away.

For more information on how you can order the kit and exactly when it will be fully unveiled, click on the official Leeds site here.

There was absolutely no surprise today when Harry Kewell pulled out of Australia's three international friendlies in June, having fallen out with the organisers of the tournament.

Kewell is said to be angry over comments supposedly made by Dominic Galati, a director of the International Entertainment Corporation, who are in charge of the competition. He is alleged to have complained that some of Australia's star players (and presumably he was including Kewell in this group!) had demanded in the region of £55,000 in appearance fees to turn out against Manchester United last summer.

Bernie Mandic, Harry's Australian manager, added that as a result of this "he won't play in any games run by the IEC until he gets an apology."

Sadly, two of United's England stars - one at U21, the other at full international level - have been forced to pull out Wilkinson's and Keegan's respective Euro 2000 parties.

Michael Bridges has withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad for the European Championship in Slovakia later this month. He injured an ankle in our last Premiership game of the season at Upton Park and, having met up with the squad at the weekend, has been ruled out of the tournament and advised to take it easy over the summer. Obviously, from our point of view, it ise essential that he gets himself 100% right for the start of the new campaign. He has been such a success during his first season at the club and it will be exciting to see how he pairs up with the new striker who will be presumably brought in over the summer months - whoever he may be.

Meanwhile, Jason Wilcox has disappointingly been ruled out of England's Euro 2000 campaign, unable to shake off a knee injury that he too picked up over our last couple of games of the season.

It is particularly upsetting for Jason, who following his late introduction to the squad, looked set to be named in the final squad. Such is the dearth of left footers in the country, it now leaves Keegan in a desperate position. The England boss commented:

"We don't feel he had any chance of getting back for a place in the 22. I'm disappointed. He was devastated - I think that's the second time that had happened to him."

Gareth Barry of Aston Villa has been brought into the squad, maintaining Keegan's promise that any squad replacements will come from the U21 party, should the need arise. Of course, it means another problem for Wilkinson, as Barry was central figure in his group. However, the Villa man is primarily a defender, leaving England woefully weak in left midfield and attacking positions.

Newly promoted Manchester City continue to be linked with Alfie Haaland. The link surfaced several months ago but continues to reappear. Whether there is any truth in it remains to be seen.

Alfie struggled to hold down a first team place for much of last season. However, when he was eventually called upon over the last third of the campaign, he produced some sterling performances, both as cover in the centre of defence and in his more accustomed midfield role. Indeed, for several matches, it appeared that he was first choice above £5 million Michael Duberry to deputise when either Lucas or Woody were unavailable.

He has become something of a cult figure at the club and it would be a shame to see him leave - much as it was a pity to see Wetherall disappear last season! Let's hope O'Leary has learnt his lesson. Sources close to the club suggest that perhaps first team football might become even more remote for Alfie next season, especially if batty recovers and Dacourt proves to be a hit. However, should a defensive minded midfielder be surplus to requirements, I'm sure most supporters would prefer to see Hopkin leave than Alfie!

The transfer silly season now appears to be well and truly upon us! Following yesterday's news that we are lining up a bid for West Ham's Rio Ferdinand (a story which does seem genuine enough!), the tabloid hacks now appear to be linking us with any quality centre half in the country.

As if to prove the point, the 'news' today is that we're lining up a £15 million bid for Spurs' Sol Campbell. Is this likely? Well...we may be able to offer him Champions League football next season, should we get through the qualifying round, but it seems to be the worst kept secret in the game that should Spurs let him go, Old Trafford would be his destination.

More basic concerns would be: (a) Can we afford to spend such dosh on a defender and (b) Is he worth the money? Personally, I think we should be spending that kind of money on a world class centre forward, not a centre half. You only need to look at Matt Elliott of Leicester to see that there are still real bargains to be had in this country, if your scouting network is up to scratch!

Secondly, I have grave doubts whether he's worth that amount. Undoubtedly, on his day, he can be world class - and eighteen months ago he looked like he was going to set the world alight. However, I thought he had some poor games last season, albeit playing in a poor team. I recollect seeing him at The Stadium of Light, for example, when Phillips and Quinn made him look extremely ordinary - and that's just one example. I think he probably needs a move to a good side to resurrect his career - but at £15 million he seems to me to be a touch overpriced. £10 million might be a more realistic price.

Despite the fact that West Ham continue to claim that Rio Ferdinand is definitely not for the sale, rumours were growing stronger and stronger this morning that Leeds were about to smash their transfer record by signing the England star. A bid of £12 million is said to be the fee - although there is a possibility that Duberry, who world like a move back to the capital, might be offered as part of the deal. Expect the rumours to become facts over the next 48 hours.

However, it's not all good news! Leeds United World has heard from a source very close to the club that several players may be moving in the opposite direction. The aforementioned Duberry and Hopkin were two names mentioned and would come as no surprise. However, the other two - if true - would send shockwaves round the club: Huckerby and....Woodgate!

Although Huckerby hasn't been given much of a run in the team, he is a fans' favourite and would be missed. However, should Woody be allowed to leave, there would surely be a major outcry. The only possible - and slightly worrying motive - might be that the club are concerned about his impending court case and would rather offload him whilst he still has some value. At the time when the 'race' story broke, there were tabloid rumours that Arsenal would take him for £10 million. Let's hope this particular story proves to be wide of the mark.

With the hopes of a nation on their shoulders, Arsenal saved one of their most lack lustre performances of the season for the UEFA Cup Final last night. They could only draw 0-0 with the Turkish champions and were easily beaten 4-1 on penalties by the Istanbul outfit.

I am sure the thought of United supporters will go out to the families of the Gunners fans who were injured in the rioting yesterday - as football yet again proved of secondary consequence to real life and death matters.

On a lighter note, we now have a chance of achieving a peculiar 'hat trick' at the weekend. Leicester and Galatasaray knocked us out of the Worthington Cup and the UEFA Cup respectively and went on to win them. I wonder whether Villa will be able to do the same on Saturday!

Having secured our place in the qualifying round of next season's Champions League, we found out today exactly when the games would be played - although, of course, as yet we do not know who we will be playing. This latter information will be made available on Friday 21st July at 12 midday.

We will start our Champions League campaign in the Third Qualifying Round on the 8th or 9th of August, a week and a half before the Premiership season starts. The second leg will be played on the 22nd or 23rd of August, during the first week of the Premiership.

To hopefully avoid any rustiness, an extensive pre-season schedule has been arranged, although - without wishing to insult any of the teams concerned - not against any real top rate opposition. Perhaps O'Leary and Gray don't want us worn out before European competition has even begun!

Meanwhile United have outlined their plans for the pre-season which will start with a tour of Sweden in mid July.

The full list of pre-season fixtures is as follows:

I announced yesterday that Gary Kelly would be joining nephew Ian Harte on the operating theatre over the closes season. Today it has been announced that Alan Smith will be joining them. Smithy, who has not enjoyed the best of seasons, has not had his form improved by the fact that he has been carrying a slight ankle problem right throughout the campaign. Now he will get this sorted in plenty of time for the 2000-2001 kick off.

Smithy was not named in Howard Wilkinson's England Under-21 squad for the European Championship which gives him plenty of time to get him fighting fit for the new season.

Amidst the excitement of the Dacourt transfer yesterday, two other snippets of news may have passed you by.

Harry was unsurprisingly named Leeds Player of the Year - by a huge margin - at an official dinner last night. Meanwhile, Gary Kelly - whose season was capped by his inclusion in the PFA Premiership team - is to have a hernia operation this week, to get him ready and fully fit in time for the start of next season.

United today announced the first of their Summer signings - with the news that Olivier Dacourt is to join us from Lens in a record breaking deal. Several reports during the day seemed to suggest that the transfer fee could be as high as £8.3 million. However, Peter Risdale confirmed this evening that the real figure was £7.3 million: still dwarfing the £5 million we paid last year for Michael Bridges.

The 25 year old international midfielder is at present enjoying a family holiday. However, the deal is as good as done, with only Dacourt's personal terms to be finalised. It is not thought these will pose any problem.

He had been tracked by several other Premiership clubs, most notably Newcastle United. Bobby Robson tonight admitted he was disappointed to have missed out on a player he regards extremely highly. Describing him as a younger version of Roy Keane, he explained how the Mags could not compete financially with Leeds at present. How times have changed!

Dacourt will be officially unveiled upon his return from holiday at the start of June. Risdale explained there may be several other top signings in by then - and that Dacourt's fee is unlikely to be the highest fee paid by the club over the Summer months. Exciting times indeed!

The last ball of the 1999-2000 season may have been kicked, but Leeds United World will stay with you over the summer months to bring you the very best close season coverage.

We'll be there with the latest transfer news and gossip - as well as articles on your favourite players, interactive quizzes and more!

Stay with us for the very best unofficial coverage of your club.

Congratulations to everyone at the club - in particular O'Leary, Gray and the players - for achieving our pre-season goal of qualifying for the Champions League.

In what proved to be an afternoon of nail-biting tension, we managed to get a 0-0 draw at Upton Park whilst our main rivals, Liverpool, were getting beaten by Bradford City at Valley Parade. In a little twist of fate, it was United old boy David Wetherall who got the Bantam's winning goal with a superb first half header whilst Gunnar Halle also played his part with a stunning goalline clearance in the second period.

Congratulations to all! We will now need to qualify for the Champions League proper by playing one of the competition's lesser fancied teams, sometime in August.

The close season can't come to an end quickly enough! Roll on August!

Today's Mail on Sunday contained a major back page headline, linking O'Leary with the managerial vacancy at Celtic. The story went on to say that the Leeds boss would be offered a contract worth £2 million a year to leave Elland Road for the Parkhead outfit, making him easily the best paid manager in the land! What's more, he would be given an open wallet in terms of transfer funds to restore the club to its former glories.

Not surprisingly, Peter Risdale has been quick to dismiss the stories out of hand. He says there has been no contact between the two clubs and, in any case, O'Leary has promised his allegiance to the Whites and is most definitely not available.

Elsewhere, several of the tabloids have suggested Manchester City boss Joe Royle might be about to step in with a £5 million bid for Alan Smith. If there is any truth to this, I personally would snatch the money out of City's hand. However, O'Leary seems to have plenty of belief in the young striker and might be reluctant to sell a player who he feels might be suffering from just a slight lull in what will be a glittering career. We'll have to wait and see!

Inspirational Captain Lucas Radebe is hoping to give O'Leary a major boost for tomorrow's crunch game against West Ham at Upton Park, by returning to the side after injury.

Lucas was forced to sit out last Monday's game against Everton with a knee ligament injury that had prevented him playing in the second half of the previous home match against Watford.

However, he believes he can be ready in time for Sunday's vital game against the Hammers. He says, "It's a game I definitely don't want to miss. I can't stand watching matches. I'd much rather be out playing. I don't want to watch Sunday's match or listen to it on the radio so I'll be doing all I can to get myself fit."

If Lucas doesn't pull through in time, it would undoubtedly be a major blow, especially with the threat of Di Canio to counter. Duberry would be available, as the suspension resulting from his sending off on Monday would not now kick in until next season. However, most supporters would probably be happier with Haaland partnering Woodgate in the centre of defence.

Yesterday's tabloids were full of stories that Nigel Martyn might be forced to miss out on this Summer's Euro 2000 finals, as a result of a knee injury. The rumours started to circulate in the aftermath of last Monday's game against Everton, when Nigel clearly wasn't at full fitness.

However, he has been quickly today to deny the gossip and let Kevin Keegan know that he will be available for the finals should the England manager decide to pick him. Speaking on the club's official website, he says, "I want Kevin Keegan to know that I am fully fit and available for Euro 2000."

"Reports that I have a knee injury that will keep me out of the squad for the tournament are entirely untrue and I am very much looking forward to the start of the competition."

Howard Wilkinson has picked three United players in his squad for this summer's Euro 2000 U21 Finals: Michael Bridges, Danny Mills and keeper Paul Robinson. Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate had already been informed that they would not be picked for international duty until the court case surrounding their alleged involvement in a racist attack had been heard later in the year. However, Alan Smith will have been disappointed to have been left out.

The U21 Championships start at the end of May when England will face three Group B games against Italy, Slovenia and Turkey. The winners of this group will then play in the final in Bratislava on June 4 against the winners of Group A: Holland, Spain, Croatia or the Czech Republic.

Leeds have been linked with a host of top strikers over recent weeks. However, as the season draws to a close, Celtic front man Mark Viduka seems to be emerging as favourite to be signed by O'Leary over the summer months. Despite the fact that he was named Scottish Player of the Year this campaign, whether he is quite the top name striker Leeds fans have been hoping for is debatable. However, if the price is right, he could well do a good job for us next season, as he links up with fellow Aussie Harry Kewell.

According to sources close to the club, United's number one target was Robbie Fowler. However, with Houllier not keen to sell, Viduka is apparently the next in line. Should this move fall through, Bayern Munich's Carsten Jancker is another player O'Leary has supposedly been tracking.

Jancker, 26, scored for Bayern against Real Madrid in midweek, as the Germans bowed out of the Champions League - and is still seen as part of their plans for the future. However, should United make an offer around the £10 million mark, a club insider says that Bayern will be unable to turn down such money.

Olivier Dacourt now looks to be a near certainty to become a Leeds player in the very near future. Indeed, as soon as the season finishes on Sunday, it is expected that O'Leary will parade the Lens star as his first of his summer signings.

However, another player who has been tracked by the club over recent months looks much less certain to end up at Elland Road: John Aarne Riise of Monaco.

Monaco coach Claude Puel, who has just led his club to the French title, has announced that Riise is not for sale this summer and is regarded as central to Monaco's long term future. He says, "I hope that we aren't forced to sell him. We need John Arne. He has got everything, but still needs time to develop. His talent is huge."

Leeds appear to be closing in on the first of their close season targets, even before the last ball of this campaign has been kicked. It is been suggested that Lens midfielder Olivier Dacourt could be unveiled by United as early as next Monday - with some cynics suggesting that the player might be stalling until United have (hopefully) guaranteed their Champions League place against West Ham.

The player himself has not denied an interest in joining Leeds and his most recent statement suggests that discussions to bring him to Elland Road are at an advanced stage. "We're moving forward," he says. "Leeds is a big club and I always said I wanted to play in England again."

Leeds were held by Everton 1-1 at Elland Road tonight, to make next Sunday's game against West Ham at Upton Park a must win affair. A second half goal by Nick Barmby cancelled out Michael Bridges 21st of the season. However, the match was most notable for the inept performance of referee Andy D'Urso, who somehow managed to send off three players and book another five.

Leeds now squeeze just one point ahead of Liverpool into third place in the Premiership table. However, with the scousers having a superior goal difference to us, only a win against the Hammers next weekend will guarantee Champions League football next season. Any other result will leave us looking anxiously at the result of the Bradford City v Liverpool game at Valley Parade.

Following the fiasco surrounding Jimmy during the last close season, United fans will be pleased to hear that our latest prize asset, Harry Kewell, has denied any desire to leave us - at least not in the near future. All this, despite the fact that Italian clubs, including AC Milan, are rumoured to be ready to table £20 million bids over the close season.

However, Harry has told Sky Sports, "I just come here and play football. I don't listen to the talk about me leaving." He adds, "There’s definitely more to come from us. This season we’ve gone out there as more confident players who can play football. Its given me a boost to know that the rest of the team can do that."

Unfortunately, though, it looks unlikely that we will be able to keep hold of Harry long term. He has, on several previous occasions, stressed his desire to play overseas at some point in his career and he is sticking to that idea. He says, "Everyone would like to go overseas and see what it is like in another country. I'm no different." Let's hope we can get at least another couple of good seasons out of him first, though.

With tabloids suggesting that United target Mark Viduka is set for a £8.5 million move to Tottenham, his agent, Bernie Mandic, has moved quickly to deny the rumours. "I will say categorically that there has been no contact between Spurs and Mark Viduka," he says.

Meanwhile Leeds Chairman Peter Ridsdale has likewise played down rumours that he might be set to bring former hero Jimmy Hasselbaink back to the club. "He won't be at Atletico Madrid next year, I am sure. But I don't really see the possibility of him coming back to Leeds.

"It's not something I would expect us to be interested in. I don't think we can turn back the clock as if nothing happened. He went in fairly acrimonious circumstances."

Who was it said that football is a funny old game? All season, we looked to be in the driving seat for a Champions League place. However, following a disastrous slump in form over the last couple of months, Liverpool looked set to storm past us into third place. Now, though, there has been another twist in the tail.

As we managed a 3-1 win over Watford tonight - with goals from Bridges, Duberry and Huckerby, Liverpool slipped to an unexpected 2-0 loss at home to Leicester. All this means, of course, that we are now a point ahead of them with just two games remaining. If we can get victories against Everton next Monday and at West Ham on the final Sunday of the season, we'll be playing Champions League football next season.

Harry Kewell had a memorable time at London's Grosvenor House Hotel last night, as he was named PFA Young Player of the Year, ahead of Coventry's Robbie Keane and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.

In the senior award, he came third behind Roy Keane and Kevin Phillips, as he had in the Football Writers Awards a few days earlier.

Another sign of the progress the club has made this season was that no less than four players were named in the Premiership team: Martyn, Kelly, Harte and Kewell all taking their places. The full team reads:

Martyn (Leeds), Kelly (Leeds), Stam (Man Utd), Hyypia (Liverpool), Harte (Leeds), Keane (Man Utd), Beckham (Man Utd), Kewell (Leeds), Vieira (Arsenal), Phillips (Sunderland), Cole (Man Utd).