Leeds have confirmed two transfers that have been rumoured for weeks. Robert Snodgrass has been given permission to talk to Norwich City to agree personal terms, while Luke Varney is to join Leeds from Portsmouth.

Neil Warnock told the official site that Snodgrass has left the club's training camp in Cornwall after we accepted an improved offer from Norwich of £3 million. Leeds have decided to cash in rather than lose him for nothing in 12 months time, but his departure is bitterly disappointing for the manager who identified Snoddy as our key player and appointed him captain.

“Negotiations have been going on for weeks. I was hoping he would have had a change of heart and I can honestly say that in all my time in football, I've never worked hard in trying to keep a player. He was offered the best contract, the captaincy, and we would have built a team around him so I am very disappointed.

He's made it clear what he wants to do and he's had his head turned. He wants to play in the Premier League. He believes his Scotland international career may be better served in the Premier League, but I'm not so sure. The club is in the process of due diligence and there's not a lot concrete we can say to him, plus he's seen it all before over the past few years. Life moves on though.”

Snodgrass is leaving after he turned down a new deal that would have made him the best paid player at the club. Norwich are paying half the money up front, and the best we can hope for now is that Warnock can use the fee to bring in some more new players before the season starts in three and a half weeks time.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth striker Luke Varney has arrived on a two-year deal, after the 29-year-old accepted a compromise agreement over the remaining time on his Pompey contract. There is no transfer fee to pay, as the south coast club desperately needed to get him off their payroll as they fight to stay in business. The much-travelled striker has scored 68 goals in 288 appearances for various clubs, having also played for Crewe, Charlton, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackpool.

He told the official site "I'm delighted it's all complete. Once I'd spoken with the manager I couldn't wait. This is a club I have always wanted to play for. I know some of the lads here - those that I didn't know have been really welcoming - and it's a great recipe to come here. And you see the training ground and the support, hopefully we will have a good season.”

So at least he sounds keen and he’s cheap, but I can’t say I’m all that impressed by his previous scoring record.

Photo: Action Images

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