But Ridsdale believes the improved deals he has offered both - together with the prospect of Leeds launching a serious Premiership challenge will be too good for the pair to turn their backs on Elland Road.

Ridsdale, who jetted out to meet Viduka while the former Celtic striker was on holiday, said: ‘‘We have had negotiations with both players and believe we have made each an offer they will accept.

‘‘Mark and Olivier have made it clear they are happy at Leeds and want to stay.’’

Ridsdale expects both players to put pen to paper on rises that are worth £250,000 a year when they return from their respective summer breaks.

The influential Leeds duo, both one year into their original five-year contracts, have also been handed 12-month extensions to those agreements.

Ridsdale has moved swiftly to counter any moves from several of Europe’s heavyweight clubs, with Inter president Massimo Moratti having earlier told onefootball.com: ‘‘We are confident that we can sign Viduka. We have received positive news from his agent.

‘‘We will be contacting Leeds over the next two weeks.’’

But after thrashing out a new deal with Ridsdale in Croatia Viduka said: ‘‘It would have to be a very, very good deal to prise me away from Leeds.

‘‘It’s not all about money. It’s about being somewhere which feels right and at Leeds we are building something special.’’