Robinson leaves Leeds for Spurs, Milner stays

LEEDS UNITED last night claimed they had agreed a £2 million cash deal with Tottenham for England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Earlier yesterday Spurs reported the deal was worth only £1.5 million.

The deal is set to go through at the weekend subject to Robinson agreeing personal terms and passing a medical. Robinson almost joined Spurs during the January transfer window, but the move fell through because Leeds wanted Spurs to loan him back to them for the remainder of the season and that was against Premier League rules.

Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner said: “We are very pleased with the deal for Paul and we wish him every success at Tottenham. Despite reports to the contrary it was the best offer made for him. None of the top four Premiership clubs were interested or had an opening for him, so the market was very limited regardless of his enormous talents.”

Krasner also claimed that Robinson was “the highest paid goalkeeper in England” and added: “We have made no secret that the wage bill at the club has to come down.”

Earlier in the transfer window Spurs had been linked with a double swoop for Robinson and James Milner, who yesterday decided to stay at Elland Road despite Spurs’ latest attempt to lure him to White Hart Lane.

However, last night Krasner claimed the £2.5 million Spurs offer in January had been for both players.

“It is worth remembering that the £2.5million offer made by Spurs in January also included James Milner, so the club has done well out of this deal by securing £2 million.”

Krasner also confirmed that an offer had been made to the club for 18-year-old Milner.

He said: “We were obliged to pass on the offer, despite the fact that we wanted him to stay.

“There was no pressure on him to go, so we are delighted that, as a local lad, he wants to remain with us and be part of the club’s future plans.”

Milner, meanwhile, is poised to sign a bumper new pay deal with Leeds after turning his back on a £5 million move to Spurs.

Milner, one of the lowest paid players at Elland Road, is due to conduct negotiations within the next two weeks with chairman Gerald Krasner after underlining his commitment to the Whites.

Spurs were eager to land the England Under-21 international and tabled a bid described by Mick McGuire, the Professional Footballers’ Association deputy chief executive who acts as Milner’s agent, as “an outstanding offer”.

But Milner will not be following Robinson to White Hart Lane.

Instead, the 18-year-old winger is desperate to stay at Leeds and lead the club’s push for an immediate return to the Premiership.

“There is a clause in James’ contract which allows us to renegotiate his current deal after a certain number of games, and he has long passed that mark,” confirmed McGuire to PA Sport.

“We are pleased to see the chairman has already spoken about renegotiating his contract and the managing director is in full support of that.

“I shall be going to speak to Leeds within the next fortnight in order to secure a longer-term commitment from James and the club.

“As far as we are concerned, the matter with Spurs is now over and they cannot prise James away from Leeds, but that is a football decision. We now hope the club will show their appreciation and commitment to one of their bright young stars.”

With the Leeds board in need of funds to pay off the £15 million loan they took out with Aston Villa shareholder Jack Petchey to help secure their £22 million purchase of the club in March, the sale of Milner would have aided their cause.

Krasner, managing director David Richmond and director Peter Lorimer had previously stated Milner was not for sale, but given the magnitude of Spurs’ offer, felt obliged to inform the player of the renewed interest.

And, with Alan Smith and Mark Viduka certain to follow Robinson out of Elland Road, the fact that Milner has declared his intent to stay, is a rare piece of good news to emerge from Leeds.

“It is true to say Tottenham made a fantastic bid for James and I have discussed the matter with both David Richmond, and I have also spoken at length with Daniel Levy,” added McGuire.

“In fairness, the bid was tremendous and the way both clubs have conducted themselves in this matter has been thoroughly professional. At no point did we feel that Leeds were trying to push James out the door.