Whites want Cranie
Leeds United manager Neil Warnock is looking to strike a deal with Martin Cranie after the former Coventry City defender reached the end of his pre-season trial, writes PHIL HAY.
Warnock admitted he would be happy to add Cranie to the squad at Elland Road if Leeds and the centre-back can agree terms on a suitable contract.
Cranie is a free agent after leaving Coventry in May and he has featured in all of United’s four pre-season friendlies, including three in Devon and Cornwall last week. A 45-minute outing at Torquay United on Friday night brought Cranie’s fortnight-long trial to a conclusion and Warnock is open to the possibility of signing the 25-year-old.
Warnock said: “He’s a steady player and what I’d call a squad player.
“Where it goes from here really depends on what Martin’s looking for and what we can afford to offer him. He’s calm, collected and a good lad who’s fitted in well with the other players. We just need to chat things over and see what happens.”
United did not concede a single goal in any of their first four friendlies with Cranie on the pitch, and he and Jason Pearce were paired in the centre of defence throughout the first week of Leeds’ pre-season schedule.
Warnock has an alternative centre-back in youngster Tom Lees but he requires cover in that area with Andy O’Brien likely to move on from Elland Road after being transfer listed at the end of last season.
Warnock’s priority in the transfer market is securing a new striker and he is also seeking a specialist right-back, with Leicester City’s Lee Peltier high on his list of options.
But having signed no fewer than five players last week, he does not expect any new faces to appear in United’s next friendly against Sandefjord in Norway on Wednesday, saying: “I wouldn’t have thought any of my targets will come in before then.
“Although you never say never with us.”