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Press Watch

Disagreement over whether Reid has secured Leeds job on full-time basis while Manchester United are linked with South American targets

Jon Culley
Monday 21 April 2003 00:00 BST
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Confusion reigns over whether Peter Reid has done enough to be offered the Leeds United manager's job on a permanent basis after his caretaker stint at Elland Road. Yes, says the News of the World, which reports that the former Sunderland manager has become the first choice ahead of Gordon Strachan, Martin O'Neill and Paul Hart after apparently saving Leeds from relegation.

No, says the Sunday Express. According to its sources, Hart is the No 1 target ahead of Reid, with the Elland Road club's former youth coach having impressed the Leeds plc board, grappling with £70m debts, by taking Nottingham Forest into the First Division promotion race despite being forced to sell two of his better players in Jermaine Jenas and David Prutton.

Meanwhile, according to the News of the World, loaned-out midfielder Olivier Dacourt wants Leeds to lower their £4m asking price so he can remain with Roma. The same paper says the West Yorkshire club's hopes of off-loading striker Mark Viduka to Tottenham for £5m may be dashed as Glenn Hoddle is looking for better value options in the lower divisions, with Peterborough's ex-Crystal Palace front man Leon McKenzie a potential target along with Brighton's Bobby Zamora and Gillingham's Marlon King. Zamora is also reportedly wanted by promoted Leicester.

While the Mail on Sunday reinforces the 'David Beckham for Real Madrid' rumour, Manchester United are linked with a range of targets. Parma's £9m-rated Brazilian winger Adriano is on Sir Alex Ferguson's wanted list, according to the News of the World, while the Express says United are on the trail of River Plate's 20-year-old midfielder Andres D'Alessandro. The Sunday Mirror's spies reckon signing Sporting Lisbon's 19-year-old Ricardo Quaresma is a major objective for Sir Alex, but the Sunday People says his sights are on the 17-year-old Lens striker Jimmy Briand.

The News of the World predicts an Everton move for the Tottenham midfielder Matthew Etherington and interest from Manchester City in Lazio's Jaap Stam and the West Bromwich goalkeeper Russell Hoult.

The Express says Liverpool are monitoring Owen Hargreaves after Bayern Munich's coach Ottmar Hitzfeld questioned the England player's attitude, while the People reckons Velez Sarsfeld's Argentinian midfielder Manuel Gutierrez will be Liverpool's first signing for next season.

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