QPR reject pounds 5m Leeds bid for Sinclair

The Queen's Park Rangers chief executive, Clive Berlin, has rebuffed Leeds United's latest attempt to take Trevor Sinclair back to the Premiership.

The Elland Road club said yesterday that they had filed an official bid for the England Under-21 winger, thought to be in the region of pounds 5m, and were awaiting a response from Loftus Road. Last night, though, Berlin said that Rangers were not prepared to sell Sinclair.

"I can confirm that Bill Fotherby, the chairman of Leeds, has been in contact about Trevor," Berlin said. "He was told that Trevor is not for sale and no figures were mentioned. But he seems to be carrying this on through the media and not direct to the club."

Meanwhile, Leeds' new owners, Caspian, have pulled off a major coup by persuading the Manchester United finance director, Robin Launders, to move to Elland Road. Launders will become chief executive of Caspian's subsidiary, Leeds United Holdings plc.

The Newcastle United defender, Robbie Elliott, has agreed terms with Blackburn Rovers, but his transfer fee is likely to be settled by a tribunal because the clubs could not agree an amount.

Sasa Curcic is in trouble at Bolton and this could spark a pounds 3m transfer chase for his signature. The Serbian midfield player has failed to fit into the club's pre-season training and will be absent when Bolton kick off at Port Vale on Saturday.

Liverpool still hope to have the Czech international, Patrik Berger, cleared for their opening fixture at Middlesbrough on Saturday. The classy midfielder, a pounds 3.2m signing from the German champions, Borussia Dortmund, is waiting for a work permit from the Department of Education and Employment, but the club are confident he will be cleared in time.

Phil Gray, Sunderland's Northern Ireland international striker, is having a trial with the French club, Nancy. Spencer Prior, the Norwich City defender, is in talks with the Leicester City manager, Martin O'Neill, over a pounds 600,000 move to Filbert Street.