Kewell set for Arsenal talks - McKenzie

Leeds chairman John McKenzie believes Harry Kewell will start talks with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger this week to discuss a possible move to Highbury.

McKenzie has pushed the boat out as far as Kewell is concerned in a bid to keep him at Leeds, offering the 24-year-old what is understood to be a £2.5m-per-year (€3.5m-per-year) pay package, making him the club’s highest-paid player.

McKenzie, though, is resigned to the fact the lure of Champions League football is likely to prove too strong for ambitious Kewell, who has 12 months left on his current Leeds deal.

Arsenal are favourites to sign Kewell, although the Australia international winger is apparently monitoring the David Beckham situation to see if Manchester United show any interest should the England captain move on.

But it is Wenger leading the chase and he is set to meet with Kewell and advisor Bernie Mandic, who spoke with McKenzie about a new deal on Friday, at some point over the next few days.

“The main thing now is what Harry wants to do,” admitted McKenzie in the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“If he wants Champions League football then he’s aware of this official interest from Arsenal and he’ll no doubt pursue that.

“I would guess he’ll be talking to Arsenal and talking to Arsene Wenger at some stage this week.

“He’s heard what we’ve got to say, so I suppose we’ve got to accept that he’ll want to hear what they’ve got to say as well.

“We’ve done all we can for Harry and we’ve made what we all consider to be a very good offer.

“If Harry decides that offer’s not good enough and he doesn’t want to play for Leeds then that’s his choice.

“But we had a good meeting on Friday and nothing has been decided yet. I think Harry wants to assess his various options and there’s nothing more we can do until he’s done that.”

Given Wenger’s transfer funds are limited this summer, a player-plus cash deal for Kewell is preferable, with Jermaine Pennant the latest Gunner linked with a switch to Elland Road.

McKenzie inadvertently let the cat out of the bag yesterday when he stated manager Peter Reid has his eye on England U21 international Pennant.

Ray Parlour and Francis Jeffers have previously been mooted as players who could be heading north should Kewell’s move get the green light, although McKenzie would ideally like a straight cash transaction.

“David Dein rang three weeks ago to say there was an interest, but we have had no formal offer yet,” added McKenzie.

“Pennant is a player Peter Reid is interested in, but it’s not as specific as that – a specified exchange is not what we have in mind and Arsenal have not included his name in any dealings with us.

“The fact remains that we are still looking to keep Harry and hopeful we can reach a deal with him. The ball is in his court.”

Reid, meanwhile, looks set to sell 5% stake in former club Sunderland to ensure Leeds can compete in next season’s FA Cup.

Even before Sunderland’s relegation from the Premiership, league chiefs confirmed there was no conflict of interests.

The FA’s rules differ, though, and as such English football’s governing body could throw Leeds out of the Cup if Reid held onto his shares.

Although Leeds are seeking clarification, that is a situation that will not happen as McKenzie stated: “We will take advice from the FA and act accordingly.

“But this isn’t really an issue because Peter’s flexible about what happens.

“Our accountants have all of this in hand and there’s absolutely no possibility of us not being in the FA Cup next season.”

Following Reid’s appointment of Kevin Blackwell as head coach last week, with the former Sheffield United assistant-manager starting work today, Adrian Heath is to be appointed chief scout.

Heath, who was Reid’s right-hand man at Sunderland, will take over from Ian Broomfield who recently linked up with former Leeds boss David O’Leary at Aston Villa.