Times Online - Sport
Mills closes on City move as Harte leaves for Spain
By Oliver Kay
THE exodus from Leeds United continued yesterday when Ian Harte became the eighth high-profile player to leave the Yorkshire club during the close season and Danny Mills prepared to become the ninth. Harte, the Ireland full back, completed a surprise move to Spain to join Levante on a free transfer, while Mills, the sometime England defender, spent the day discussing personal terms with Manchester City.
City hope to sign Mills on a free transfer as Leeds continue to slash their wage bill after their relegation to the Coca-Cola League. Harte, James Milner, Stephen McPhail, Dominic Matteo, Nick Barmby and Mark Viduka have all left Elland Road for new clubs in the past eight days, with Paul Robinson and Alan Smith having joined Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United respectively earlier in the summer.
Mills, 27, was expected to join Middlesbrough, where he spent most of last season on loan, but that deal collapsed when the player failed to agree personal terms, with Middlesbrough subsequently signing Michael Reiziger from Barcelona. No such problems are anticipated with his proposed transfer to City, whose manager, Kevin Keegan, has been monitoring the right back for several months.
Harte is another player that Leeds have been eager to clear from their wage bill, but his destination was less predictable. He has signed a four-year contract with Levante, the little-known Valencia-based club, who are preparing for their first Primera Liga campaign in almost 40 years. “Levante are a really ambitious club and I’m keen to help the team and to stay here for a long time to come,” Harte, 26, said yesterday.
Mills closes on City move as Harte leaves for Spain
By Oliver Kay
THE exodus from Leeds United continued yesterday when Ian Harte became the eighth high-profile player to leave the Yorkshire club during the close season and Danny Mills prepared to become the ninth. Harte, the Ireland full back, completed a surprise move to Spain to join Levante on a free transfer, while Mills, the sometime England defender, spent the day discussing personal terms with Manchester City.
City hope to sign Mills on a free transfer as Leeds continue to slash their wage bill after their relegation to the Coca-Cola League. Harte, James Milner, Stephen McPhail, Dominic Matteo, Nick Barmby and Mark Viduka have all left Elland Road for new clubs in the past eight days, with Paul Robinson and Alan Smith having joined Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United respectively earlier in the summer.
Mills, 27, was expected to join Middlesbrough, where he spent most of last season on loan, but that deal collapsed when the player failed to agree personal terms, with Middlesbrough subsequently signing Michael Reiziger from Barcelona. No such problems are anticipated with his proposed transfer to City, whose manager, Kevin Keegan, has been monitoring the right back for several months.
Harte is another player that Leeds have been eager to clear from their wage bill, but his destination was less predictable. He has signed a four-year contract with Levante, the little-known Valencia-based club, who are preparing for their first Primera Liga campaign in almost 40 years. “Levante are a really ambitious club and I’m keen to help the team and to stay here for a long time to come,” Harte, 26, said yesterday.