Leeds Must Decide On Loan Stars

Last updated : 12 September 2003 By Kevin Markey
The club resisted late bids for some of their remaining star names before the closure of the transfer window at the end of August and McKenzie does not believe the club will need to sell when the window reopens on January 1st.

"The club has stabilised in recent months so now we have to be able to build for the future," he said.

Peter Reid must decide by January whether to sign any of the seven loan stars on full contracts, or risk seeing the transfer fees escalate.

All are available to buy should they impress but their clubs have warned Leeds the prices will be higher next summer than during January's transfer window.

However, McKenzie is confident something can be worked out for any players the club wish to keep, and told the Yorkshire Post: "I am now looking at who might be coming in. If one, two or three of the French lads come up trumps then I will have to work out how we are going to bring them in permanently.

"We have them on loan here for a whole year but if we want them at a specific price then we have to announce our intent to buy in January.

"It will obviously depend on whether Peter wants to keep them but it will then be down to me to try and find the money required."