Keane is happy to remain at Leeds
Keane turned down a £9 million move to Sunderland on his return from the World Cup and says he is keen to prove himself to new Leeds manager Terry Venables after Tottenham expressed an interest in signing him last week.
“The interest is always flattering, but I’m happy at Leeds,” he said.
“I’ve said ‘no’ to Sunderland so, as far as I’m concerned, that’s over now.
“Everyone knows that the club needed money.
“Maybe that situation has changed now Rio (Ferdinand) has gone, maybe it hasn’t.
“I just want to stay, and that’s no snub to Peter Reid, whom I respect as a great manager.”
Keane, who was unhappy at being left on the bench by previous boss David O’Leary last season, also revealed he has spoken to Venables on the club’s tour of the Far East and Australia but “the chat wasn’t about me saying I wanted to play”.
Meanwhile, Paul Robinson strengthened his grip on the number-one shirt by making a string of important saves as Leeds finished off their Far East tour with a 2-1 victory over a Bangkok XI in Bangkok.
Robinson has been tipped widely to start the season as Terry Venables’s first-choice stopper following Nigel Martyn’s refusal to embark on the three-match trip.
And he did his case no harm by keeping Leeds in the game until they began to stamp their class.
The home side, made up of mostly the Thailand Under-23 squad, started at a furious pace and Robinson was called into action, with his best effort coming in the 17th minute with a double save.
Leeds took the lead seven minutes later when Eirik Bakke, who has impressed Venables on the trip, lashed home a powerful shot from 30 yards.
The Yorkshiremen doubled their advantage eight minutes before half-time when Harry Kewell put Robbie Keane through and he rounded the keeper confidently before scoring.
Robinson made another great save three minutes before the break but was beaten just before half-time when former Huddersfield Town striker Kiatisak Senamuang curled in a wonderful effort after Leeds had surrendered possession in midfield.
Venables made 11 substitutions as the second period progressed, with the game losing some of the intensity of the opening 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, Sunderland boss Peter Reid has stepped up his bid to bring in new blood after admitting defeat in his chase for Robbie Keane.
“I don’t really want to get involved in any big discussion about the situation,” the Black Cats manager said.
“The simple fact is that he was a player we were very interested in, but no deal can be done at this present time, so that’s that,” he said.
“I think everyone knows the position that we want to strengthen in, and the fact is that I’m looking at a number of possible targets.”
Sunderland will now turn their attention to alternative targets, with Derby’s Malcolm Christie and Espanyol frontman Raul Tamudo among the names to be linked to them.
Reid has been trying to find a partner for star man Kevin Phillips with player-coach Niall Quinn close to retirement.
Frenchman Lilian Laslandes was the big hope after his £3.6 million arrival from Bordeaux last summer, but his career on Wearside has yet to come to life and he was one of eight players told they could leave at the end of a disappointing campaign in May.
Cameroon international Patrick Mboma, who joined the club on loan from Parma during the final weeks of the season, did not fit the bill either.
In the meantime, the Black Cats will continue their preparations in Belgium with a game against Antwerp tonight.
Phil Babb, who arrived on a free transfer this summer, has already made a good impression in the club’s pre-season games to date.
Brazilian Emerson Thome, who has teamed up with the former Liverpool man in both games, has been hugely impressed and warned people not to think the lack of a price tag is any indication of Babb’s worth.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
