Leeds United: Warnock move to Derby County on hold LATEST

Leeds United captain Stephen Warnock’s proposed move to Championship promotion chasers Derby County is on hold.
TARGET: Leeds United's Stephen Warnock is attracting interest from Championship rivals. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.TARGET: Leeds United's Stephen Warnock is attracting interest from Championship rivals. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
TARGET: Leeds United's Stephen Warnock is attracting interest from Championship rivals. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

The former England international underwent a medical at Derby earlier today, with the Rams keen to assess an ankle injury - ironically suffered in Leeds’s 2-0 loss at the iPro Stadium on December 30 - further before committing to a full-time move.

The Rams remain hopeful of completing the deal, possibly later this week.

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Warnock - one of United’s most consistent players this season - is in the final six months of the two-and-a-half year deal he agreed when Leeds took him Aston Villa in January 2013.

TARGET: Leeds United's Stephen Warnock is attracting interest from Championship rivals. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.TARGET: Leeds United's Stephen Warnock is attracting interest from Championship rivals. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
TARGET: Leeds United's Stephen Warnock is attracting interest from Championship rivals. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

Despite his heavy involvement in their Championship campaign, United are likely to allow him to quit Elland Road on a free transfer, removing one of their higher earners from the wage bill.

Derby are seeking left-back cover for Craig Forsyth, having identified Warnock’s experience as potentially vital during the end-of-season run-in.

Warmock has been sidelined for United’s past two matches, with Charlie Taylor deputising in the FA Cup game at Sunderland and in the weekend encounter at Bolton.

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Warnock, who turned 33 last month, endured a mixed start to his time at Leeds, but he found his form impressively this season, despite strong rumours of a run-in with owner Massimo Cellino.

The former Liverpool player was reported to have sought the assistance of the Professional Footballers’ Association, the players’ union, in October amid suggestions that Cellino was blocking the defender’s inclusion in United’s starting line-up.

Warnock later denied that claim and was installed as captain by head coach Neil Redfearn the following month, replacing Jason Pearce. He has not been offered a new deal, however, and looks set to move on before Leeds’ game at home to Birmingham City this weekend.

Warnock claimed before Christmas that he was open to discussing an extended contract at Elland Road, saying: “Nothing has been mentioned. It’s one of those things - if something pops up, we’ll sit down and talk about it.”