Sunderland miss out as Healy set for move to Elland Road

LEEDS United look set to sign Republic of Ireland midfielder Colin Healy.

The 23-year-old, out of contract and a free agent after rejecting a new deal at Celtic at the end of last season, had passed a medical at Sunderland last Thursday and was set to join his

former international manager Mick McCarthy for the start of Saturday’s Nationwide League first division season.

A wrangle over possible compensation to Celtic delayed the deal’s completion, however, and Leeds boss Peter Reid stepped in to approach Healy about a switch the Premiership side.

The Ballincollig, Co Cork, player had initially been pencilled in to

appear as a triallist during the weekend’s Dublin Tournament, but was unable to travel to the capital in time.

Instead he will train with Leeds at their Thorp Arch complex in Yorkshire today and tomorrow. If negotiations are completed swiftly, Healy could make his Premiership debut next Sunday against Newcastle United at Elland Road. Speaking in Dublin, where Leeds lost on penalties to Aston Villa on Saturday before playing Shelbourne yesterday, Reid said of the imminent transfer: “It’s a real possibility. The lad’s coming down to us and we’ll have a look. There are certain things to be finalised.

“I’ve got to clear things with Martin O’Neill but I’m fairly sure. I was speaking to him just before this weekend and he’s quite positive,” he said.

On the thorny issue of compensation, which seems to have scuppered McCarthy’s bid to take Healy to Sunderland, Reid added: “I think me and Martin will have a chat about that, but I’m not expecting any problems.”

With Leeds £111m in debt, Reid has been limited to loan deals and free transfers this close season.

Frenchmen Didier Domi and Zoumana Camara have come in on season-long loans from Paris Saint-Germain and Lens respectively while Jody Morris was a Bosman signing from Chelsea.

Morris and Healy could be joined by another free agent in Senegalese striker Lamine Sakho, 26, who spent last season at Marseille and was given a run out in Dublin as a trial player.

Sakho played 70 minutes against Villa in tandem with Alan Smith and the Leeds boss said: “He did brilliantly and looked as though he could handle the ball. He had pace and he’s got a spring that surprised me.

“I’ve got to have a chat with the people who look after him and see what we can do. I don’t want to speculate but he impressed me. It’s the first time I’ve seen him and I liked what I saw. He looked a decent player,” said Reid.