Versatile White in Barnsley loan link
YEP 2/9/13
by Phil Hay
Aidan White could move out of Leeds United before tonight’s transfer deadline after an approach from Barnsley to sign him on loan.
The Oakwell club made contact with Leeds about White’s availability last week and are hoping to reach a deal to take him until the turn of the year ahead of the closure of the summer window.
Barnsley submitted their enquiry after accepting a bid for Scott Golbourne from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the completion of Golbourne’s transfer on Friday put them in the market for a new left-back.
White, 21, has been a peripheral figure at Elland Road since the start of the season, making one appearance in a League Cup win over Chesterfield but failing to feature in United’s squad for any of their last four matches.
He was missing from the group of 18 chosen by manager Brian McDermott for Saturday’s Championship defeat to Queens Park Rangers.
The former academy player has attracted interest from more than one club during the summer, drawing an offer from Blackpool as part of a joint bid for both him and striker Ross McCormack. Leeds rejected the proposal out of hand.
But McDermott has been working all summer to ease a £15million wage bill and is crossing his fingers that circumstances will allow him to make a further signing of his own before the English deadline falls at 11pm this evening.
The United boss has recruited four new players – Matt Smith, Luke Murphy, Noel Hunt and Scott Wootton – since the end of last season but he spoke to the board at Elland Road last week about pulling off one final deal before the window closes.
McDermott, who has made no secret of his desire for additional wingers at Elland Road, said: “I’d like to bring in one player if we could. It’s quite obvious that we could do with a bit of width.
“I don’t know if it’ll happen and I’m saying a lot and saying nothing again. I did that with our fourth transfer when we signed Scott Wootton but we got him in in the end. If we don’t add to the squad then we don’t. We’ll work with what we’ve got and I’ll be happy to do that if that’s how it is. We’ve still got the loan window as well.”
David Norris, Danny Pugh, Adam Drury and El-Hadji Diouf are other senior squad members who McDermott has been willing to listen to offers for, and asked if some of his players would part company with Leeds today McDermott said: “It’s possible that one or two might go out on loan.
“We’ve had a couple of enquiries.”
Leeds resolved one pressing issue ahead of Saturday’s clash with QPR by tying Ross McCormack, their Scotland international, to a new four-year contract.
“We’ve done Ross McCormack and that was really important,” McDermott said.
“Ross is happy with the deal and we’re happy too. It’s good news.”
Leeds’ defeat to QPR – their first loss of the season – was a disappointing end to an encouraging month in which the club have claimed eight points and reached the third round of the Capital One Cup.
A Clint Hill goal 15 minutes from time settled an even and unspectacular game at Elland Road, leaving Leeds to reflect on the result during a two-week international break.
But McDermott said: “I don’t get too high when we win or too low when we lose.
“You do what you have to and move on quickly.”
by Phil Hay
Aidan White could move out of Leeds United before tonight’s transfer deadline after an approach from Barnsley to sign him on loan.
The Oakwell club made contact with Leeds about White’s availability last week and are hoping to reach a deal to take him until the turn of the year ahead of the closure of the summer window.
Barnsley submitted their enquiry after accepting a bid for Scott Golbourne from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the completion of Golbourne’s transfer on Friday put them in the market for a new left-back.
White, 21, has been a peripheral figure at Elland Road since the start of the season, making one appearance in a League Cup win over Chesterfield but failing to feature in United’s squad for any of their last four matches.
He was missing from the group of 18 chosen by manager Brian McDermott for Saturday’s Championship defeat to Queens Park Rangers.
The former academy player has attracted interest from more than one club during the summer, drawing an offer from Blackpool as part of a joint bid for both him and striker Ross McCormack. Leeds rejected the proposal out of hand.
But McDermott has been working all summer to ease a £15million wage bill and is crossing his fingers that circumstances will allow him to make a further signing of his own before the English deadline falls at 11pm this evening.
The United boss has recruited four new players – Matt Smith, Luke Murphy, Noel Hunt and Scott Wootton – since the end of last season but he spoke to the board at Elland Road last week about pulling off one final deal before the window closes.
McDermott, who has made no secret of his desire for additional wingers at Elland Road, said: “I’d like to bring in one player if we could. It’s quite obvious that we could do with a bit of width.
“I don’t know if it’ll happen and I’m saying a lot and saying nothing again. I did that with our fourth transfer when we signed Scott Wootton but we got him in in the end. If we don’t add to the squad then we don’t. We’ll work with what we’ve got and I’ll be happy to do that if that’s how it is. We’ve still got the loan window as well.”
David Norris, Danny Pugh, Adam Drury and El-Hadji Diouf are other senior squad members who McDermott has been willing to listen to offers for, and asked if some of his players would part company with Leeds today McDermott said: “It’s possible that one or two might go out on loan.
“We’ve had a couple of enquiries.”
Leeds resolved one pressing issue ahead of Saturday’s clash with QPR by tying Ross McCormack, their Scotland international, to a new four-year contract.
“We’ve done Ross McCormack and that was really important,” McDermott said.
“Ross is happy with the deal and we’re happy too. It’s good news.”
Leeds’ defeat to QPR – their first loss of the season – was a disappointing end to an encouraging month in which the club have claimed eight points and reached the third round of the Capital One Cup.
A Clint Hill goal 15 minutes from time settled an even and unspectacular game at Elland Road, leaving Leeds to reflect on the result during a two-week international break.
But McDermott said: “I don’t get too high when we win or too low when we lose.
“You do what you have to and move on quickly.”