Doubt remains over Dacourt transfer
Olivier Dacourt’s transfer to Roma is still up in the air after FIFA revealed they had received no indication the transfer had gone ahead.
Leeds had thought Dacourt’s £3.5m (€5.06m) move to the Serie A side – where he spent part of last season on loan – had been completed.
But world governing body FIFA announced last night they had no information to suggest the transfer saga was over.
“To date, no formal information has been submitted to the FIFA Players’ Status Department in regards to the status of the player Olivier Dacourt and the clubs Leeds and AS Roma, and as such we have no information on the matter,” said a FIFA spokesman.
Leeds manager Peter Reid has insisted he will not pick players who are not passionate about playing for the club – a policy which has received the backing of fans.
Leeds United Supporters’ Trust chairman John Boocock has echoed the manager’s call for unity following a turbulent few weeks, which have also included Harry Kewell’s controversial transfer to Liverpool.
“We all want to see exciting players with passion and pride, but the only thing Peter Reid has got left open to him is to make the best of what he has got,” Boocock said.
“I think the supporters are generally resigned to that. Leeds seem to have a pool of constant under-achievers, and I think a lot of it is to do with how they are managed.
“It may well be that someone who is a bit old-fashioned like Peter Reid can get the extra mile out of them.”
Recently Leeds have had a steady stream of young talent coming through into the first team, with midfielder James Milner the latest player to follow in the footsteps of home-grown talents like striker Alan Smith and goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
Forward Michael Bridges could well feature again at the start of the season after recovering from a ruptured Achilles with Reid keen to secure a new deal for the 24-year-old he sold to Leeds when at Sunderland.
Reid is also understood to be tracking Brazilian midfielder Kleberson, while he continues to take a first-hand look at on-trial Crystal Palace wide man Julian Gray and is also keen to strengthen the centre of defence.
Boocock, though, feels Reid should not be rushed into the transfer market despite the recent departures of key players.
“Although it is a buyer’s market and prices have been forced down, Reid hasn’t got that much money to play with,” he said.
“So I think what he is going to have to do is see who he has got and then who he wants to buy with the money he has got.”
