Roque Junior to begin Leeds talks

AC Milan have confirmed that Brazilian defender Roque Junior is travelling to Leeds to discuss a year-long loan deal with the Premiership club.

The Italian club’s director general Ariedo Braida told the www.acmilan.it website that negotiations were well advanced.

“Before the signature and the ratification of the contract – which has not yet happened – Roque Junior will be going this evening to England to make personal contact with the club,” said Braida.

“But we must underline there is nothing signed, nothing definitive.”

The defender, who turns 27 on Sunday, was a member of Brazil’s World Cup-winning squad.

Leeds manager Peter Reid is hopeful of concluding a deal for the centre-back swiftly.

He has moved following Bolton manager Sam Allardyce’s failure to land the South American.

“He is a player we are in for, but I don’t want to say very much until things develop further,” said Reid earlier today.

“We are in negotiations and obviously things need to be tied up quickly because we are running out of time with regards to the transfer window [which closes on Sunday].

“But we are hopeful and we will just have to see how things pan out with the lad over the next couple of days.”

If Reid pulls off the deal it will represent his most significant signing so far, with Cameroon international midfielder Salomon Olembe also poised to join Leeds on a season-long loan from Marseille.

The main stumbling block for Reid with regard to Roque Junior’s move is the player’s wages.