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Blame it on Rio West Ham's Ferdinand set for British record Leeds move
Updated: Wednesday November 22, 2000 1:38 PM
LONDON (AP) -- West Ham agreed Wednesday to sell Rio Ferdinand to Leeds United for 18 million pounds (US$27 million) in a British-record transfer deal that would make him the world's most expensive defender. The 22-year-old England center-half looks set to join the Yorkshire club Thursday, when he will meet with Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale to discuss personal terms. Under the proposed five-year deal, Ferdinand would receive a reported him 22,000 pounds (US$33,000) per week. The transfer fee would eclipse the British record 15 million pounds (US$22.5 million) paid by Newcastle to Blackburn for Alan Shearer, and by Chelsea to Atletico Madrid for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. It would also surpass the 13 million pounds (US$19.5 million) paid by Roma for Argentina's Walter Samule in June, a world record for a defender. West Ham manager Harry Redknapp said the bid for Ferdinand was an offer the London club simply "can't refuse." "I've said all along this season that I didn't want to lose Rio, and the club has rejected previous bids from Leeds, but this is an awful lot of dough," he said. "We can't lose. It's a lovely position to be in where you get offered 18 million pounds for one of your players. To be fair, it's an awful lot of money to turn down, isn't it?" Ferdinand, considered one of England's stars of the future, put in an impressive display in the 1-0 defeat to Italy in a friendly in Turin last week. He also played a leading role in West Ham's 1-0 win over Leeds at Elland Road on Saturday. "The boy is a top-class player and if we could add to the squad at the present time, it would be very helpful," Leeds assistant manager Eddie Gray said. "He played very well on Saturday, there is no doubt the boy has tremendous ability." Redknapp said it was in West Ham's long term interests to sell Ferdinand. "With the transfer system what it is at the moment, it could all fall to pieces in a month's time and he could be walking away for next to nothing," Redknapp told the club's official Web site. "I don't want to lose Rio, he's a fantastic player and will go on to be one of the best in Europe. I've never changed my opinion about that, but 18 million pounds breaks all sorts of records really and it's a difficult one to turn down. "Anyone who thinks I don't want to keep him is a fool. But we're not Arsenal, Manchester United, or Liverpool -- we're West Ham." Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale said the signing of Ferdinand underlines his desire to turn the club into a British and European power. "Agreeing a fee, which is not only a British record but also a world record for a defender, demonstrates unequivocally our determination to become a leading force in both the Premiership and in Europe," he said. "Often in the past we have been criticized for not backing the desires of managers with money. No longer can that accusation be leveled." Ferdinand would be eligible for Leeds' Champions League campaign in February, starting with the home game against Anderlecht on Feb. 13. Shadow of MooreHowever, the deal still leaves two questions unanswered. Is Ferdinand really worth 18 million pounds ($25.48 million)? And can he live up to the hype of being compared with Moore? West Ham manager Harry Redknapp believes Ferdinand, who stands to set a world record transfer for a defender and a British record for any player, has the potential to be a better player than the man who was West Ham's greatest captain. Redknapp, a teammate and personal friend of Moore for many years, said: "Rio's got much more ability than Bobby ever had. "Bobby had no pace and couldn't head the ball, but he became a great player. "Rio's as quick as anyone I've seen, he's outstanding in the air and he can pass the ball superbly. Half the people in international football can't pass a football but Rio can, and he doesn't give it away very often." However, Ferdinand -- who has played only for West Ham -- has his critics, most notably former Liverpool and Ireland defender Mark Lawrenson, who now works as a media pundit. Lawrenson says Ferdinand fails to read the game well enough and lacked concentration. Not surprisingly, Redknapp dismissed such criticism as "rubbish." "I don't know what Lawrenson is talking about. Rio is an outstanding talent and that is why we have had people like [Leeds manager] David O'Leary constantly ringing me up with bids. "Either David is a mug or I am a bigger mug for not taking the money. People keep looking for a little fault here and there but they are nitpicking." "Everyone has an opinion on Rio, but I work with him every day and he is different class. "When [Israel's] Eyal Berkovic was with us, he once said to me in training: 'Boss, it's a waste of time having one-on-ones with Rio - I've never seen anyone get past him'. "Rio is as quick as anyone I've seen, great in the air and is outstanding on the ball. If he was in Italy, he would have 40 caps by now." Ferdinand has only 10 caps for England, however. Ferdinand played in the middle of a three-man defense against Italy, the position where he plays most of his club football, although he has been used in a variety of positions for his country. Redknapp believes Sven Goran Eriksson, who will take over as national coach next year, should build his side around Ferdinand and he believes his defender is the sort of ball-playing defender England have lacked for years. "When Rio came through at 17, I said he was the player England have spent 30 years waiting for, someone who can bring the ball out of defense and pass it. "He is the sort of player a manager can build his side around. I'm sure the new guy will want people who can pass from the back and read the game, and Rio is ready now." Even the great Franco Baresi, who was a rock in defence for AC Milan and Italy, liked what he saw when he watched Ferdinand in action earlier this year. Di Canio stormBut another Italian, West Ham teammate Paolo Di Canio, caused a storm with comments that Ferdinand and young Joe Cole were not proven at the highest level. "Rio is a very talented young player," said Di Canio. "But if I'm going to be honest, then I must say that along with Joe Cole, I don't think they are ready for England just yet. "It's too easy to say they are talented and ready. They must prove themselves, match after match for a long time, not just a few games." That prompted a swift response from Redknapp, and Di Canio was missing from West Ham's next game -- ironically at Leeds last weekend, when Ferdinand was again outstanding in a 1-0 shock win for the Londoners. The attention on Ferdinand will be even more intense should he become Britain's most expensive player. But the defender says he is his own biggest critic. "I don't think there's anyone who criticizes me more than myself," he said. "Criticism from others doesn't bother me to be honest because I've already done it to myself a 100 times over."
Reuters contributed to this report.
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