Leeds close to signing Aruna Dindane in Middle East deal
By Leon Wobschall
LEEDS UNITED are closing in on a deal to sign former Portsmouth striker Aruna Dindane – who is understood to be in Yorkshire today to meet with club officials.
The 32-year-old frontman is a free agent after recently leaving Qatar-based Al-Sailiya Sport Club following a six-month spell with United set to hand him a contract for the rest of the season.
Dindane, capped 67 times by Ivory Coast, has been playing in the Middle East for the past three seasons, but has been keen to make a return to England – following a successful loan spell at Fratton Park in 2009-10 after joining from French side Lens.
Dindane struck 10 goals for Pompey – including a top-flight hat-trick against Wigan Athletic in October 2009 – but failed to earn a permanent deal following the cash-strapped club’s relegation from the top-flight.
Shortly after, Dindane headed to Qatar, but after a two-and-a-half-year spell with three separate clubs, he has expressed an interest in heading back to the UK.
The forward revealed a desire to return to the Premier League only last month, with West Brom, Swansea City and Southampton tentatively linked to the much-travelled player.
The player also confirmed interest from clubs in France, Portugal and Turkey.
But Whites boss Neil Warnock, keen to bolster his forward ranks and with ongoing uncertainty regarding the future of top-scorer Luciano Becchio, appears to have won the race for his services.
Meanwhile, Warnock’s hopes of signing another forward in Norwich City striker Steve Morison are on hold, with the Welsh international currently on the injured list with a minor tear in his thigh.
Morison’s Carrow Road future is uncertain with Canaries boss Chris Houghton keen on supplementing his forward line, having been linked with moves for Swansea City’s Danny Graham and Celtic’s Gary Hooper.
Leeds and Blackburn Rovers are believed to be monitoring developments with Morison, who is set to return to action in the next week or two.
The agent of Bradford City hot-shot Nahki Wells has confirmed United are one of a host of clubs watching the striker.
But he has added that the Bantams, in Capital One Cup semi-final action tonight, are currently not looking to sell with only a massive offer likely to lead to them cashing in with the club having not received any bids yet.
Agent David Threlfall said: “I know Leeds are watching him, but everyone seems to be. Because Nahki is doing well, a lot of clubs are watching him in every game. “But to my knowledge, the club (Bradford) have had no sniffs for him.”