Kewell deal to be ironed out

Harry Kewell could complete his protracted move to Liverpool today if his agent can iron out a last-minute hitch over a "loyalty" payment.

The Australian international is understood to be holding out for a pay-off from Elland Road as he did not put in a transfer request.

Leeds and Liverpool are believed to have agreed a £7m (€10m) switch but Kewell’s request for a pay-off has held up the deal.

It also scuppered plans for the player to announce which club he was joining in a pre-recorded television interview in his native country.

Kewell had already told the Channel 9 TV station which club he was joining but the airing of the interview had to be shelved yesterday when the transfer was held up.

The 24-year-old has been left waiting for agent Bernie Mandic to iron out the problem.

Kewell has already claimed that after talking to Liverpool “for over six months... everything just seems to be right for me to go there”.

In further revelations, he added: “I’m not going to change my mind and hopefully they don’t change theirs.”

Leeds manager Peter Reid is understood to be lining up Julian Gray, who recently turned down the offer of a new contract at Nationwide First Division side Crystal palace, as a replacement for Kewell.