Hammers offer for Gradel is rejected by Leeds

The 23-year-old is wanted by new Hammers manager Sam Allardyce to spearhead the Londoners’ push for an instant return to the Premier League.

Gradel netted 18 goals last season but has less than a year remaining on his contract at Elland Road – meaning he will be able to walk away on a free transfer next summer if no fresh agreement can be struck.

Despite that, Leeds last night rejected the offer from West Ham for the Ivory Coast international.

Whether Allardyce returns with an improved offer remains to be seen but with the indication being that agreement between Leeds and the player’s representative over a new deal is some way off, the turning down of the Hammers’ bid is unlikely to do much to lessen the speculation that has surrounded Gradel’s future in recent weeks.

Fulham, whose goalkeeper David Stockdale yesterday confirmed his interest in a season-long loan switch to Leeds, and Swansea City have also been tracking Gradel, who joined from Leicester City for £250,000 in January last year.

Gradel’s situation is similar to that of Kasper Schmeichel, who moved to the Walkers Stadium last month in a surprise £1.25m transfer after talks over a possible extension to his contract had stalled with just a year remaining.

Schmiechel’s departure together with Shane Higgs being released at the end of last season meant a priority for Grayson this summer has been finding two goalkeepers.

Paul Rachubka has since filled one of those vacancies after signing on a free transfer from Blackpool, while Fulham’s Stockdale has now emerged as a serious contender to become the club’s first choice goalkeeper next season.

The 25-year-old is available on a season-long loan following the arrival of Hungarian goalkeeper Csaba Somogyi at Craven Cottage.

Manager Martin Jol still sees Stockdale as part of the London club’s long-term plans, hence why Swansea City’s £2m bid was yesterday rejected.

Confirming the rebuffing of his club’s offer, Swans chairman Huw Jenkins said: “We have made enquiries there but it doesn’t seem there is anything on the Fulham side that they want to make a deal happen, so it is looking unlikely that that’s going to happen.”

Jol now wants to send the former York City and Rotherham United goalkeeper out on loan to a Championship club and Leeds are one of several understood to have registered their interest.

Over recent days, Stockdale has been inundated with messages from Elland Road fans on his Twitter site – all asking if he was likely to join Leeds.

In reply, he tweeted: “In answer to all your questions, if Leeds became an option I would love to help my hometown club back to where they belong.”

Stockdale’s wife Katie also uses Twitter and confirmed her husband is “definitely” interested in signing for Leeds, adding that she too fancied returning to her hometown – even if it was only for a year.

Jol, who recently signed Hungarian goalkeeper Csaba Somogyi, is keen to place Stockdale in the Championship rather than the top-flight due to that allowing the Londoners to have a 24-hour recall option.

That would not be ideal for Leeds, who could later face the possibility of losing their first-choice goalkeeper at short notice if either Mark Schwarzer or new arrival Somogyi suffered an injury.

Last week, United had hoped to have concluded a deal for Preston North End goalkeeper Andy Lonergan only for talks to break down over what the club believed to be excessive wage demands.

The 27-year-old is believed to have asked for around £14,000 per week, double what he will be on at Deepdale next season following Preston’s relegation to League One.

United baulked at such a figure and quickly pulled the plug, leaving the way open for the subsequent move for Stockdale.

The Leeds-born goalkeeper, who has been at Craven Cottage for three years, yesterday flew out to Northern Ireland with the rest of the Fulham squad ahead of tonight’s Europa Cup qualifier second round first leg clash with Crusaders.

Asked about his hunt for a first-choice goalkeeper, United manager Grayson said: “If you look over the last few weeks, we have been linked with every goalkeeper on the planet, including some good ones.

“We try to do our business quietly but it shows the type of players we want. We are looking to bring one in, but will try to keep it quiet as we always do.”

United have made two signings this summer, Rachubka having been joined at Elland Road earlier this week by former Sheffield United midfielder Michael Brown.

Grayson, who the Yorkshire Post understands has enquired after Aston Villa’s Australian-born defender Chris Herd, added: “We are still working hard to bring extra recruits in. We know what we need to do to make us better. We are working hard and, hopefully, we can have more news in the next few days or the next week.”