Warnock's Testing Summer Continues

Neil Warnock continues to endure a testing summer as manager of Leeds United despite last week signing Paddy Kenny for the fourth time, a keeper he is extremely fond off. The former Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers gaffer finally appeared to piecing his jigsaw together but with club's sniffing around his players, the club may not be able to rebuff offers for much longer.

Warnock today revealed that up to five clubs are in the hunt for last season's top goalscorer Ross McCormack whilst youngster Aidan White has still yet to agree a new deal at Elland Road after his current deal expired at the end of last month.

Speaking about the pair Neil Warnock had the following to say:

"Ross has got many people who like him. There's four at the moment and there's another one who has phoned me this week. There's probably five clubs vying for his signature.

If we lose players like that we have to have replacements and have them on board. I don't think we want to be waiting and letting them go, we want to get some players in. We need to look at things day by day because it's changing.

It's like Aidy White, there's a couple of people spoken to him. I'd like Aidy to stay but we have to negotiate with his advisors and come up with an agreement that he's happy with as well. I don't think he's looking to leave."

Judging by Warnock's comments, whilst he would probably like McCormack to stay, were he to find the right replacement, I don't think he would have too many quarrels about the talented front man leaving. It would also seem that Aidy White would like to stay but an agreement between both the club and White seems to be extremely slow in coming. His main worry though will be Robert Snodgrass who yesterday attracted an offer from Premiership side Norwich City. The offer was turned down by the Whites but it remains to be seen how much longer the club can keep their star man and captain who Warnock would like to build his team around.

Speaking about the offer the manager said:

"It's been made public that they have bid, but from our own point of view it's not what we're looking for. We'd like to keep Rob, and Rob knows that. Whether that will be possible we'll have to wait and see."

"It's difficult when players get their heads turned, but i'd like to keep Rob at the club and that's what I'm trying to do at the moment. Unless they come up with a valuation that the club things is satisfactory then that's what we want to do."

Despite all the talk about a takeover this summer, the manager seems to be working his heart out behind the scenes and has managed to acquire the signatures of Jason Pearce, Adam Drury, Paul Green and Paddy Kenny. His defence for the new season is nearly complete, it is just the rest of the squad that now needs to be completed. It must be incredibly hard to work when the future of the club is under so much uncertainty. Nevertheless the club appear to be on the verge of another signing in the shape of Rodolph Austin from SK Brann and Warnock hopes to tie up a deal by early next week.

"I don't think there's anything agreed at this stage, but we're in conversations with the club. From what I've read in the papers they want to play him next weekend, but I'm hoping we can tie a deal up and get him as soon as possible in the early part of next week.

I like him. I had him at QPR and would have loved to have signed him then. I've kept tabs on him since then. He's very flexible. He's just as good at full back or centre back, and gives us a presence in midfield."

I think a lot of credit has to go to Warnock so far this summer, he is working under some tough circumstances and whilst it isn't being made as quickly as everybody involved would like, progress is being made. With a month to go until the start of the season, hopefully 4 or 5 new faces will come in and by the time the first ball is kicked, the manager will be pleased with the squad that he has at his disposal and who knows, we may even have some new owners.