Yorkshire Post
Everton target United's Bakke
Matt Reeder
EIRIK BAKKE, one of the few big-earners to remain at Leeds United this summer, could be on his way to Everton after the Merseysiders failed in a bid to lure Robbie Savage.
Eager to strengthen his Premiership squad before the start of the new campaign, Toffees manager David Moyes is understood to have switched his attentions to Bakke after his No 1 target signed a new four-year contract at Birmingham.
The Norwegian international was in United's starting line-up for last night's 2-0 win in the pre-season friendly against Swedish side Bodens in which new signings Brian Deane and Michael Ricketts both scored.
Bakke has stated his desire to stay at Elland Road but is realistic enough to accept his fate may lie elsewhere.
Twelve first-team players have already been sold off by a Leeds board desperate to slash the wage bill in preparation for a season outside the top flight. The drastic exodus of Alan Smith, Mark Viduka et al has ensured their self-imposed salary cap of £18m has been met, but a chance to off-load Bakke will not be ignored.
With two years remaining on his £28,000-per-week contract, he is simply a luxury the financially-stricken club cannot afford to keep.
The kind of talent who would also command a fee, his departure would not only save significantly on wages but also bring in some welcome ready cash.
Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell has stated his intention to keep Bakke in the squad, knowing only too well that the player has the ability to stamp his authority on games in the Coca-Cola Championship.
The financial position at Leeds is such, however, that for him to bring in new players and strengthen the squad sufficiently, he is likely to have to sacrifice yet more of his better players.
Needing three new recruits at least, possibly even five, the only way he might be able to free up the finances he needs is if he bids farewell to Bakke and maybe even Gary Kelly, who also earns in the region of £30,000 per week.
A number of targets have already been lined up to replace the Scandinavian with the likes of Sean Gregan and Andy Johnson of West Bromwich Albion and Richard Chaplow of Burnley in the picture.
Everton had tabled a £2.5m offer for long-time target Savage on Tuesday, but the Welsh international spurned their advances and finally signed on a new long-term contract at Birmingham.
His manager Steve Bruce had described Everton's offer, which would have only seen £1m paid up front, as 'laughable', but a similar package would surely be welcomed by the United board if the Merseysiders came calling for Bakke.
Blackwell will use this week in Sweden to gauge the strength of his Leeds squad. Much has changed from the final day of last season at Chelsea and many new faces have been brought in.
One new player, defender Clarke Carlisle, is eager to make an impression but understands the team will need time to settle after such a troublesome summer.
"We've only been together for a short while, but everyone's getting on well together, there have been no big bust-ups and people are getting to know where they fit in," he said. "We're concentrating on getting fit and looking forward to that first game of the season.
"The first two weeks of pre-season are always the hardest to get through, then once you start playing friendlies it passes a bit quicker but the goal is the first game of the season. This first month is all about throwing your hat into the ring to be in that starting XI for the first game."
Everton target United's Bakke
Matt Reeder
EIRIK BAKKE, one of the few big-earners to remain at Leeds United this summer, could be on his way to Everton after the Merseysiders failed in a bid to lure Robbie Savage.
Eager to strengthen his Premiership squad before the start of the new campaign, Toffees manager David Moyes is understood to have switched his attentions to Bakke after his No 1 target signed a new four-year contract at Birmingham.
The Norwegian international was in United's starting line-up for last night's 2-0 win in the pre-season friendly against Swedish side Bodens in which new signings Brian Deane and Michael Ricketts both scored.
Bakke has stated his desire to stay at Elland Road but is realistic enough to accept his fate may lie elsewhere.
Twelve first-team players have already been sold off by a Leeds board desperate to slash the wage bill in preparation for a season outside the top flight. The drastic exodus of Alan Smith, Mark Viduka et al has ensured their self-imposed salary cap of £18m has been met, but a chance to off-load Bakke will not be ignored.
With two years remaining on his £28,000-per-week contract, he is simply a luxury the financially-stricken club cannot afford to keep.
The kind of talent who would also command a fee, his departure would not only save significantly on wages but also bring in some welcome ready cash.
Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell has stated his intention to keep Bakke in the squad, knowing only too well that the player has the ability to stamp his authority on games in the Coca-Cola Championship.
The financial position at Leeds is such, however, that for him to bring in new players and strengthen the squad sufficiently, he is likely to have to sacrifice yet more of his better players.
Needing three new recruits at least, possibly even five, the only way he might be able to free up the finances he needs is if he bids farewell to Bakke and maybe even Gary Kelly, who also earns in the region of £30,000 per week.
A number of targets have already been lined up to replace the Scandinavian with the likes of Sean Gregan and Andy Johnson of West Bromwich Albion and Richard Chaplow of Burnley in the picture.
Everton had tabled a £2.5m offer for long-time target Savage on Tuesday, but the Welsh international spurned their advances and finally signed on a new long-term contract at Birmingham.
His manager Steve Bruce had described Everton's offer, which would have only seen £1m paid up front, as 'laughable', but a similar package would surely be welcomed by the United board if the Merseysiders came calling for Bakke.
Blackwell will use this week in Sweden to gauge the strength of his Leeds squad. Much has changed from the final day of last season at Chelsea and many new faces have been brought in.
One new player, defender Clarke Carlisle, is eager to make an impression but understands the team will need time to settle after such a troublesome summer.
"We've only been together for a short while, but everyone's getting on well together, there have been no big bust-ups and people are getting to know where they fit in," he said. "We're concentrating on getting fit and looking forward to that first game of the season.
"The first two weeks of pre-season are always the hardest to get through, then once you start playing friendlies it passes a bit quicker but the goal is the first game of the season. This first month is all about throwing your hat into the ring to be in that starting XI for the first game."
