Schmeichel completes Foxes switch

Leicester have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from Leeds for an undisclosed fee.The Foxes had a reported £1.5million offer for Schmeichel accepted last week and the 24-year-old has signed a three-year contract to team back up with Foxes manager Sven Goran Eriksson, who he worked with at Notts County and Manchester CityLeicester's football director Andrew Neville said: "Sven knows Kasper extremely well and regards him very highly, so we're delighted to have brought him to the club."He added: "He's already made a big impression both domestically and internationally and is another player at a good age for our long-term objectives.

Schmeichel, who had a season left on his Leeds contract, had expressed his surprise that Leicester's offer had been accepted and initially said he had not sought to leave Elland Road, where he made 40 appearances after signing from Notts County last summer.

Bates:Schmeichel has no future at the club.

Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has warned goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel that he has no future at the club.Leicester City have seen a bid for the 24-year-old Dane accepted by Leeds, much to the player's disappointment.And Bates has confirmed the club are already in the market for goalkeeping replacements.
He said in the Yorkshire Evening Post: "We've decided that we're going to sign two new goalkeepers and Kasper will not be first choice."Now he has a decision to make. He either accepts that he's out of the limelight for a year or he goes to Leicester or another club that comes in for him. We will be moving on."

Meanwhile, Fede Bessone is to report for Leeds' pre-season training, despite the left-back's future at Elland Road looking uncertain following a difficult season at the club.

His agent, Peter Smith, said: "He'll be training at Leeds until something else happens.

"He's got two years left on his contract and his next move needs to be the right one. As things stand, he's still a Leeds player."

Leeds have Goalkeeper signed(subject to a medical)

Leeds manager Simon Grayson has defended his decision to accept Leicester's bid for goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.Grayson told Yorkshire Radio "It's something we've been loking at in that i'm trying to improve the back four or five of last year,when you concede the number of goals that we did,it's obviously an area where one or two players are vunerable and we need to change it round slightly""There's good options for goalkeepers and defenders out there so this was a footballing decision first and foremost, but obviously in this day and age with the Bosman ruling it quickens decisions up for you. We'll see where it goes.

"When Kasper goes we have other alternatives that will make us better and keep progressing us. Those are the decisions you make at times and that's the decision we've taken at this moment in time.

"I've spoken to him to explain my decision. If no bid had come, it wouldn't have changed the position that we were looking for another goalkeeper and it would be highlighted even more. It's always an area I've been looking to strengthen."

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"A week or so ago,before all this with Kasper,we agreed a deal,subject to a medical,with a goalkeeper who will come in,but we will be looking for another as well"

Leeds Accept offer for Kasper Schmeichel

From Leeds United.com

Leeds United can confirm that the club has accepted an offer for an undisclosed sum for Kasper Schmeichel from Leicester City.

United manager Simon Grayson said: "We feel this is the right deal for the club.

"We spoke to Kasper's agent at the end of the season about a contract extension and it was apparent that it was going to be difficult to agree a deal.

"Given the fact he has one year remaining on his contract we feel this is in the best interests of Leeds United."

The 24-year-old Dane joined the club last summer from Notts County and made 40 appearances during the 2010/11 season.

Grayson weighs up Smith and Woodgate returning

SIMON GRAYSON has confirmed Alan Smith and Jonathan Woodgate are on Leeds United’s transfer radar this summer.However, the United manager has also stressed that other targets are his priority right now with a couple of prospective deals being “a long way down the line”.Leeds had an encouraging return to the Championship last season and only missed out on a place in the play-offs by three points. In an attempt to improve on that seventh-place finish, Grayson wants to strengthen in several key areas – most notably left-back, central defence and in goal, where Kasper Schmeichel is the only player on the books following the release of Shane Higgs. The impending departure on a free transfer of Bradley Johnson, who is destined for Norwich City, and Hull City target Neil Kilkenny also mean the midfield will have to be bolstered.

Newcastle’s Smith and Woodgate, who earlier this week was released by Spurs, have been linked with a possible return to Elland Road for several months. Asked if there had been any direct contact, Grayson told the Yorkshire Post: “I have had conversations, though not necessarily with the players themselves. That is how it is in football.

“If anything, it has more been agents ringing me, or people claiming to represent them. There are plenty asking the question and we have to consider it because when good players become available you have to be interested.

“But you have to look at the other side too – finances, injuries and things like that. Like any signing, you have to make sure all the ingredients are right.

“Jonathan has not played too much football and Alan missed quite a bit of last season. If you had a fit Jonathan Woodgate and a fit Alan Smith then you would have a host of clubs queueing up for them in the Premier League.

“The one thing we have got going for us is that they know the club and our ambition. That could help us if we go down that line but there as a long way to go before we even start considering it.

“We are interested in good players but that doesn’t mean those two will necessarily be signing for us. I have got many irons in the fire.

“I am a long way down the line with those other players at this moment in time.”

Leeds are yet to add to their squad this summer despite being linked with a host of names, including Sheffield United’s Nick Montgomery, Neil Danns, of Crystal Palace, and Blackpool midfielder Keith Southern.

Tentative talks are understood to have taken place with Coventry City’s out-of-contract goalkeeper Keiren Westwood but sources in the North East have indicated he will sign for Sunderland.

On the search for new faces, Grayson, who last summer made 11 signings, said: “The transfer market has been pretty quiet, that is the case for most clubs. But we do have irons in the fire and one or two deals are close.

“We have plenty of targets and are speaking to agents and players all the time. It is a waiting game at the moment. Players are trying to get the best deals, while clubs are trying to do the same.

“Eventually, somewhere down the line, you reach an agreement and sign a player. It is not as if we are missing out on targets because not too many clubs are doing any business.

“But I would expect over the next 10 days or so that the market will start hotting up. We still have a bit of work to do. We could have gone out and got half-a-dozen players in the first week of the summer but they wouldn’t have been better than what we have already got.

“We have to be patient. I have also been looking closely at what players have been released by other clubs, who might be available for fees, and who is possibly available in the loan market.

“There are a lot of factors to consider and that is why most clubs don’t do anything really until they get back for pre-season.”

Grayson, speaking at yesterday’s launch of npower’s ‘Search for a Broadcaster’ competition at Beeston Primary School, added: “I won’t put a number on the players I want to bring in. But it won’t be as many as last summer and nowhere near double figures. Then, we needed wholesale changes after winning promotion.

“This time we need a few here and there. I know the positions I want to fill to build on last season. I want more quality than quantity.”

Another Elland Road old boy who has been linked with a possible return is 34-year-old Lee Bowyer, released by Birmingham City.

Grayson said: “Lee Bowyer is another good player and we are aware he is available, as all the other 91 managers in the country will be. We all get the same list.

“But I have not spoken to Lee yet, even though he is a name that keeps being thrown around along with Leeds United.

“I am sure Lee Bowyer will have opportunities in the Premier League. But we have the ambition to match teams from the Premier League, if that is an avenue we choose to go down.”

The publication of the Championship fixtures yesterday means the countdown is under way for the new season.

Grayson said: “Everywhere you look there are good teams in the Championship. But nobody ever said that getting out of the league is easy and we will have a right good go at it.”

Leeds 1 - 0 Burnley:Match Report

Leeds kept their Championship play-off hopes alive with a victory over Burnley, whose own chances of a top-six finish were damaged as a result.United led at half-time thanks to Ross McCormack's neat finish - his first for the club since joining in the summer.Brian Jensen produced a string of saves to deny Leeds, who also hit the post through McCormack in the second half.Jack Cork fired a shot wide and Ross Wallace saw a free-kick saved, but the home side held on for a deserved win.The win completes the double for Leeds over Burnley, but more importantly keeps them in the hunt for the final play-off spot.The Yorkshire side are now level on points with sixth-placed Nottingham Forest - who host Scunthorpe later on Saturday - ahead of the final day of the season, which sees United travel to league-leaders QPR.Burnley remain in the play-off picture, but trail Forest by two points and must now beat high-flying Cardiff in their final game and hope other results go in their favour.Leeds persisted with Billy Paynter in the absence of leading scorer Luciano Becchio, even though the striker has failed to offer as potent a goalscoring threat as the Argentine in recent weeks, and the big front man was involved early, firing a half-volley narrowly wide of goal as Leeds had the best of the opening exchanges.Having weathered the early storm, Burnley fashioned a great chance at the other end when Michael Duff ghosted behind the defence to latch on to a Chris Iwelumo flick-on from a free-kick, but home keeper Kasper Schmeichel blocked with his head.In order to assist Paynter, Leeds boss Simon Grayson gave McCormack his first start since January, and the Scot linked up well with his strike partner midway through the half, crossing for the former Swindon man to draw a scrambling save from Brian Jensen with a header.

This was a rare start for McCormack, but he demonstrated no rustiness in the 33rd minute when he latched onto a superb Bradley Johnson through ball and swept in past Jensen for his first goal since moving to Yorkshire from Cardiff eight months ago.

Having taken 10 points from their previous four games, Burnley were a side in form, and they almost hit back immediately when centre-back Andre Bikey flashed a header wide from Daniel Fox's inswinging corner.

Paynter had two great chances in the space of a minute early in the second half to extend Leeds's lead, but he headed the first, from a McCormack cross, straight at Jensen and put the second wide from a tight angle after taking the ball past the Burnley keeper.

Leeds kept coming and saw two other goalbound efforts denied by Jensen shortly after.

McCormack's free-kick from the right was met with power by Andy O'Brien six yards out, but his downward header was straight at the keeper and he was able to parry it away.

Then, seconds later, McCormack swivelled in the box and shot at goal but his bobbling effort was tipped onto the post and wide by the Dane.

Burnley were not out of the game though and Cork served warning of this when he fired a superb 30-yard effort just wide of the top corner of Schmeichel's goal.

The Leeds keeper had to be alert to tip a free-kick from substitute Wallace over the bar soon after, while at the other end Jensen produced further saves to deny McCormack and Jonny Howson.

Leeds substitute Sanchez Watt could have wrapped up the game on a couple of occasions with late efforts, but as it transpired one goal was enough for the home side.

Tottenham chase £10million Schmeichel

Tottenham are to rival Liverpool in the chase for Leeds United goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in the summer.
The Danish stopper has been attracting plenty of plaudits for his performances in the Championship this season and,he has caught the eye of Liverpool and Tottenham.Current Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is yet to fully convince Harry Redknapp he is the future No.1 at White Hart Lane even though it is clear the Brazilian is far better than the much of the criticism often levelled at him.PSV Eindhoven, heading for the Champions League again next term, will take back Gomes for around £6million Redknapp would then be prepared to offer up to £10million to land his man and blow Liverpool's proposed £6million bid out of the water.Liverpool had been preparing a summer move for Schmeichel as current no 1 Pepe Reina looks set to add to the Spanish exodus from Anfield by completing a move to Arsenal.Former Arsenal legend Bob Wilson confirmed in an interview with Talksport earlier this month that Wenger had made an approach for Reina at the start of the season and was set to renew his interest.

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Tunnel vision for Leeds

Kasper Schmeichel insists there should be no distractions as Leeds United look to clinch promotion back to the Premier League.United go head to head with sixth placed Nottingham Forest on Saturday for a game that could see Simon Grayson's side move a step closer towards their goal.The manager is refusing to write off second place - United are six points behind Norwich City - but while victory could close the gap on the Canaries on Saturday, it would also be a big boost as United look to cement a spot in the Play-Offs.
Over 30,000 will be at Elland Road on Saturday and as expectations mount, the goalkeeper says it's important the team remains focused."I came here thinking that this was a chance to get promoted and everyone else thinks the same," he said."The chance is there and it's up to us to grasp it and not lot exterior things affect us or influence us too much."I don't really read papers and I try and stay away from that sort of thing because it can build up inside people heads so I think we have to stick what we know, stick together.
"We've shown in the past we're a good team and we know what we want to do."Unsurprisingly, Kasper is quick to play down suggestions about the importance of Saturday's clash with Forest.
"I wouldn't put extra emphasis on this one, because they're all important," he said. "The clichés are that every game is important and that it's the business end of the season, and we have to step up to the plate and show what we are about."

Preston 1 Leeds United 2

Promotion hopefuls Leeds climbed to fifth in the npower Championship table as goals from Neil Kilkenny and Billy Paynter saw them push Preston a step closer to relegation with a 2-1 win at Deepdale.Preston had started well at Deepdale as they looked to record a first league win in 14 games, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring through Kilkenny's fine strike.
Paynter then doubled the advantage and Iain Hume's goal was not enough to help Preston secure a point.The win moves Leeds above Nottingham Forest and they now lie just three points short of an automatic promotion place.
Preston are now 13 points adrift of safety and are in need of a miracle if they are to retain their Championship status.
Preston were boosted by the availability of keeper Andy Lonergan and defender Craig Morgan, who missed the draw with Norwich with a stomach bug.
They were also able to include on-loan Bolton man Ricardo Gardner while Leeds had their own loan signing, Aston Villa's Barry Bannan, on the bench.
Despite their precarious position Preston almost made a dream start as Keith Treacy's ferocious strike from the edge of the Leeds box cannoned back off the crossbar with Kasper Schmeichel well beaten.
Hume then fired over from distance as North End raced out of the traps.
Striker Chris Brown, who grabbed his first goal of the season against Norwich at the weekend, also went close but Schmeichel was able to gather his header.
Leeds captain Jonny Howson blazed over the bar on a rare foray forward for the play-off hopefuls but the hosts continued to look the more likely.
Schmeichel made an athletic save to deny a low Eddie Johnson drive before Gradel forced Lonergan to do likewise for Phil Brown's men.
Preston may have looked the more likely to grab an opener but they were stunned when the visitors took the lead against the run of play.
The ball fell to Kilkenny 20 yards out and he hammered the ball beyond Lonergan into the top right-hand corner in the 29th minute.
Paynter's shot was well blocked by Sean St Ledger as Leeds pressed for a second before Brown missed a glorious chance to level eight minutes before the break.
Hume's cross found the striker six yards out, but he somehow failed to hit the target.
Treacy again went close from distance upon the resumption but Schmeichel was again equal to the task.
Simon Grayson's men now looked far more assured and the lively Gradel was twice narrowly off target from the edge of the box, but Paynter's effort a few minutes later was on target and saw Leeds double their advantage in the 57th minute.
But Preston showed great spirit to respond just six minutes later.
Treacy picked out Hume and the former Barnsley man smashed the ball into the top corner to give the home side hope of salvaging something from the game.
Paynter could only hit the bar from close range from Gradel's cross, before the winger himself wasted a good chance by heading straight at Lonergan.
Bannan made his debut as a substitute and Preston pushed forward late on in search of a leveller but Leeds held out for the three points.

SWANSEA 3 LEEDS 0

Simon Grayson recalled Davide Somma to his starting line-up in place of the suspended Bradley Johnson for the clash with the second placed Swans.
The Liberty Stadium was packed to the rafters for what was billed as big game in the race for promotion and United were backed by 3,000 travelling fans, many leaving at 5am due to the early kick-off.
It was a tentative opening, and after Alex Bruce made on early block, Stephen Dobbie hit the upright with a low strike after Nathan Dyer created the opening.
Dobbie and Dyer were early threats for the home side as Swansea looked to respond to the full house crowd by putting Leeds under pressure.
And Swansea went ahead in the 13th minute, courtesy of Scott Sinclair. Sinclair collected the ball out on the left and advanced before playing a neat one-two which saw Luke Moore slip the ball back into his path to apply the finishing touch.
Moments later, Bruce made another block to deny Dyer as United were forced firmly on the back foot by the hosts. Dobbie also caused problems with a mazy run that ended with Joe Allen sending a shot high over Kasper Schmeichel's bar.
Leeds only had limited possession during the opening 20 minutes and were guilty of dwelling on the ball and allowing Swansea to capitalise. That said, Robert Snodgrass did test the hands of Dorus de Vries after cutting in from the right, but as the home side broke quickly Schmeichel had to save from Dyer before another Swans effort was deflected for a corner.
United were having a hard time of it, and Alex Bruce found himself in the book for a challenge on Dyer, despite appearing to win the ball. Grayson was also spoken to by referee Phil Dowd for protesting about the decision.
Swansea didn't maintain their early pace, but they had another opportunity when an Ashley Williams header was pushed over following a corner. Andy O'Brien cleared the danger when the ball was returned to the box.
But Leeds were screaming for a penalty on 41 minutes when a Snodgrass shot was blocked Alan Tate, and United claimed a handball. Television pictures appeared to support the claim that Tate had used his hands and the protest continued to the extent that Neil Kilkenny was booked as he lined up to take the corner.
Leeds were looking more fired up, and Somma threatened on the stroke of half-time when he had a header touched onto the bar. Max Gradel also had a shot blocked by Williams.
United had gone in at the break on the front foot and Grayson was looking for his side to come out in the same manner after the re-start.
Tate had to make one early block and Somma was denied by an offside flag as Leeds made an encouraging start to the second period, but Schmeichel was still called upon to catch a Dyer header.
But just nine minutes into the half, Dowd wasted no time in awarding Swansea a penalty after Gradel was adjudged to have brought down Dyer. Sinclair was the taker and tucked the ball low to Schmeichel's right hand side to make it 2-0.
And Swansea immediately had a decent chance to further that advantage when Dobbie played in Luke Moore who was denied by the legs of Schmeichel.
United did have an opportunity to get back in the game on the hour, but de Vries got a touch on Somma's chip when the striker was clean through on goal.
On 61 minutes, Grayson made his first change when introduced Sanchez Watt in place of the hard-working Becchio. His first real involvement was to win a free-kick, and the subsequent booking of Angel Rangel, Swansea's first yellow of the game, brought a huge ironic cheer from the travelling fans.
But it was Schmeichel was called into action again on 67 minutes when he had to get down low to get a decisive touch on a Mark Gower free-kick. Sinclair also came within a whisker after showing great skill to turn and then shoot while advancing in the box.
A quickly taken free-kick gave hope as Somma looked to latch onto a incisive pass forward, but he was beaten to the ball by de Vries and Swansea immediately moved the ball the length of the field to score a third. Dobbie was again involved and Moore applied the finishing touch, stabbing a shot wide of Schmeichel and just inside the post.
Grayson responded with a double change, Ben Parker replacing George McCartney, who was walking a tightrope after being booked, and Billy Paynter came on for Snodgrass.
United did have an opportunity as the game headed towards its inevitable conclusion, Watt putting one wide after good work by Gradel and Paynter.
Not surprisingly, given the strength of United's support, the final 15 minutes were played out to a defiant backdrop of singing from the travelling masses. That chorus became even louder as the final whistle approached and not even the beating of a Swansea fans' drum could drown out the noise being made by the United faithful.
Paynter attempted to give the fans something else to shout about in the final moments when he had a shot on goal, but de Vries had his effort covered. Somma also tried his luck with an effort which went over the bar.
Two minutes were added on at the end of normal time, but it mattered little as United slipped to yet another defeat in a country that has proved to be something of a graveyard for the club over the past 30 years.

Liverpool plot shock Championship swoop for £6m star

Liverpool are reportedly keeping tabs on Leeds goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
The Danish stopper has been attracting plenty of plaudits for his performances in the npower Championship this season and, according to the Daily Mail, he has caught the eye of Liverpool.
Former Manchester City 'keeper, Schmeichel, began to fulfil his potential with Notts County last season and did enough to earn himself a transfer to Leeds in the summer. And now he could be set to move back to the Barclays Premier League if Liverpool step up their reported interest.However, the idea of Liverpool splashing out £6 million on a no.2 goalie appears to be remote - even for one with the potential of 24-year-old Schmeichel. Liverpool could be on the lookout for a new first choice gloveman if Manchester United bid for Pepe Reina in the summer.

Reina has established himself as arguably the best goalkeeper in the Barclays Premier League since joining Liverpool in 2005 and is known to have an admirer in United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Spaniard has, however, outlined his commitment to Liverpool in recent weeks and believes there are 'exciting' times ahead at Anfield under the stewardship of Kenny Dalglish.

"It's an exciting time and we still have half of the season remaining so there are a lot of points at stake,'' said the Liverpool stopper. "We want to get as high as we possibly can in the league. It is really competitive and we have to keep this up.'

Should United bid for the 28-year-old come the summer transfer window, then Liverpool are likely to rejected any approach - having already shown their resolve over the past few days by rebuffing Chelsea's offer for Fernando Torres; outlining their intention not to sell their best players.

Liverpool owners New England Sports Ventures have pledged to keep their prized assets at Anfield, as well as investing heavily in the playing squad, so United may have to look elsewhere for a new top stopper.

KASPER BAGS FA CUP AWARD

United goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has been named E.ON Player of the Round for his perfomance against Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup.
The award was voted for by fans and Kasper beat Burton's Shaun Harrad, Sergio Torres of Crawley, Fulham striker Diomansy Kamara and Stevenage's Michael Bostwick.
The clash with Arsenal saw Kasper in fine form, and our Danish goalkeeper made two quite brilliant saves.
In the first game he got the deftest of touches to turn a Denilson shot wide and in the replay at Elland Road he made a superb save to deny Chamakh.
Kasper said: "I'm delighted to win the award and I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me.
"As for the saves, it's what I'm there for. Obviously I was pleased to make them, and I was delighted that we got a result there to take them to a replay.
"In the end, we were all gutted we didn't get a result at Elland Road in the replay, but both games were a fantastic experience for everyone."