O'Leary: Ferdinand can go if he wants

Leeds boss David O'Leary has admitted he will not stand in Rio Ferdinand's way if the England defender wants to join Manchester United.

O'Leary insists he does not want to let his star centre-half go, but accepts it would be unwise to keep hold of an unhappy player.

"I will talk to him about his future now he has returned from the World Cup," writes O'Leary in today's Sunday People.

"I'll start by finding out what he wants to do. Because let's be honest, he will know all about Manchester United.

"He has been away for five weeks with the likes of David Beckham and Nicky Butt, and there are people close to Rio who are also close to Alex Ferguson.

"It has been written that Alex is 'confident' of signing my player, and I know how these things work.

"Don't get me wrong, I am sure Manchester United will do it all properly, and through all the right channels.

"And the bottom line is that if Rio tells me he thinks that Manchester United are a bigger club and that he wants to go on to another level, then what can you do? Keep an unhappy player - and an unhappy £30m-rated (€46m) player at that?

"They are a big club, we know that. One of the biggest. If, professionally, Rio wants to do that then you have got to respect a player's wishes."

O'Leary is, however, adamant that Leeds should only accept an offer of over £30m (€46m) for the player who cost £18m (€27m) from West Ham.