Ferdinand reaches D-day over future at Elland Road
Ferdinand is talking his options over with his family in London after meeting new Leeds manager Terry Venables yesterday morning.
The England defender’s latest pronouncement yesterday was that he would take a day or two to think everything over before giving Leeds his decision.
In a positive signal for Venables and Leeds, Ferdinand said it was not unlikely he would report back to the club on Thursday to begin pre-season training.
That would be a relief to Venables and the former England coach is desperate to hang on to the centre-half.
Venables gave Ferdinand the hard sell at their breakfast meeting yesterday and tried to convince him that Leeds can satisfy his hunger for silverware.
However, as well as telling the 23-year-old how much he wanted him to stay at Elland Road, Venables spelt out a few home truths.
He left Ferdinand in no doubt if he wants to leave Leeds then he will have to make the first move and ask for a transfer.
That would probably trigger an official bid from United, who have been keenly monitoring events across the Pennines since having an enquiry politely, but firmly, rebuffed some weeks ago.
An offer from United would end the phoney war, but even then the saga could yet drag on.
Although Leeds have said repeatedly they do want not to sell Ferdinand, if they were forced to part with him they would want well in excess of £30 million.
Ferdinand’s stock has never been higher following his great showing at the World Cup, while Leeds have already turned down £25 million offers for him.
It remains to be seen if United’s keenness to sign Ferdinand will stretch to that amount, despite chief executive Peter Kenyon’s claims they are not scared to spend big.
However, the key factor is Ferdinand knows he would become the villain of the piece if he were to ask for a move.
He would be portrayed as an unscrupulous mercenary who does not know the meaning of the word loyalty.
He does not want to be seen as the man who turned his back on Leeds just 20 months after they were prepared to pay West Ham £18 million for his services and with three-and-a-half years remaining on his £40,000-a-week contract.
Leeds fans are not the most forgiving and Ferdinand knows he would face a barrage of abuse every time he faced his old club.
Ferdinand saw what England colleague Sol Campbell endured last season following his move across north London from Tottenham to Arsenal and he does not want the same treatment.
Then there is also the small matter of the loyalty bonus he would forego if he handed in a transfer request, which could be worth over £1 million.
Small beer perhaps if he were to sign a £60,000-a-week contract at United, but a significant sum nonetheless.
These factors have clouded Ferdinand’s mind in recent days and while it is believed he was keen on joining United as he chatted with the likes of David Beckham and Paul Scholes about life at Old Trafford during the World Cup, now it is thought he is genuinely undecided.
Any wonder then Ferdinand claims he is facing the biggest decision of his life.
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