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Leeds United: Toon in 'final' bid for Becks
Newcastle United have submitted a third and final bid of £1.5million for Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford.
The Tyneside club have made a last attempt to meet United's valuation after failing with two previous bids to prise Beckford away from Elland Road.
Leeds have not commented on Newcastle's latest offer but it is anticipated that the board at Elland Road will once again reject it.
Newcastle approached Leeds before Christmas with bids of 1m and 1.25m – fees which were turned down outright by United – and a further offer made this week was a last-ditch effort to persuade United to part company their 20-goal striker.
Leeds have no interest in selling Beckford for less than their asking price – thought to be in the region of 2million – despite the fact that the forward's contract will expire at the end of this season.
Newcastle have tested United's resolution repeatedly during the last month but should their latest bid prove unsuccessful, the Championship leaders are likely to take their search for a new forward elsewhere.
Newcastle's board are understood to have set 1.5m as the maximum fee they were willing to pay for Beckford and will not return to Leeds for a fourth time.
Beckford stands to treble his wages by transferring to St James' Park but Leeds manager Simon Grayson warned after the club's FA Cup victory at Old Trafford on Sunday that his club would not bow to a cut-price deal.
"He's got five goals in his last three games and strikers are a big commodity," Grayson said. "If we do let him go then it won't be on the cheap, that's for sure."
Regardless of the size of Newcastle's offer, Leeds would only move to agree a deal once Grayson had lined up a suitable replacement.
United's manager is rumoured to be interested in Billy Sharp but is likely to be priced out of a January move with Sheffield United set to demand 2million for the striker. Leeds are believed to consider that valuation excessive.
Scunthorpe United's Gary Hooper – a player who scored 30 goals in League One last season – has also been linked to Elland Road, but Leeds still favour the option of retaining Beckford until the end of the season.
Newcastle are not the only club interested in recruiting him. Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion are among a number of other sides with an eye on Beckford, and Newcastle's bids may be the first of many received by Leeds during the transfer window.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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