Ricketts joins Leeds

Michael Ricketts has become Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell’s fifth signing of the closed season.

Ricketts has signed a three-year contract with Leeds, and subject to a medical, will join the rebuilding process currently taking place at Elland Road.

The 25-year-old, who cost Middlesbrough £3.5m (€5.3m) from Bolton in January last year, has joined Leeds for nothing as the Teessiders are eager to get rid of the striker off their wage bill.

However, it is understood there is a clause in the contract which dictates the Whites will pay a specified fee for Ricketts if they win promotion during the term of his deal.

The move represents a chance for Ricketts to resurrect his career after it turned sour at the Riverside as he scored just four goals in 38 appearances for Boro, managing just 12 Premier League starts.

His time on Teesside came after a successful two-and-a-half year spell with Bolton, scoring 46 goals, in particular netting 21 in the league during Wanderers’ promotion campaign of 2000/01, and later earning his one England cap in a 1-1 draw against Holland.

But the move is not a prelude to a potential swap deal involving Mark Viduka heading to Middlesbrough, who remain involved in negotiations with the Australia international.