LEEDS UNITED have emerged as rivals to Middlesbrough in the race to sign Arsenal midfielder Edu.

Northern Echo SPORT revealed yesterday how the Brazilian was the latest player to be added to Boro boss Steve McClaren's hit-list.

But now it is understood that Leeds are hoping to attract the player to Elland Road as part of a deal which could see Australian winger Harry Kewell move to Highbury.

Former Sunderland boss Peter Reid, now in charge at Leeds, is desperate to add new players to his squad ahead of the new Premiership season. But Leeds are still reportedly in financial trouble and Reid will be unable to splash the cash in the transfer market.

With Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger determined to add highly-rated Kewell to his playing staff, Leeds are thought to be ready to do business with the Gunners in a player-plus-cash deal.

That would mean Leeds would pocket £3m-rated Edu and around £7m.

Should Boro lose out on Edu, McClaren still has his attentions on other midfield targets. Marc-Vivien Foe is still a possibility, as is Blackburn's David Dunn, the subject of a £5.5m bid from Birmingham City recently which was rejected by the Ewood Park board.

Rovers chief executive John Williams last night revealed there were other clubs interested in signing the former England Under-21 international.

Williams said: "Nothing more has happened with regards to any potential move to Birmingham but one or two other clubs are keen on David.

"We don't want to lose him, but equally you don't want to stand in a player's way when he wants to leave.

"So far we have been unable to reach any agreement and soon we may have to think about getting on with it and David coming back for pre-season training."

McClaren admits he is keeping his eye on new players, with midfielders high on his agenda.

"Our work is dual-purpose," said McClaren, who is known to be chasing two new players to play in the middle of the pitch.

"Our midfield area needs strengthening, we know that, but also there may be other things out there which may be too good to turn down."

Meanwhile, Geremi has revealed his determination to win over the new manager at Real Madrid. Under Vicente del Bosque, who was sacked this week, the Cameroon star was farmed out on loan to Boro all last season.

Boro's reluctance to pay Real's demands of £9.6m for Geremi has left the midfielder seeking reassurances over his future at the Bernabeu.

Now del Bosque has departed Geremi hopes to be given a chance by Real's new manager, Manchester United's former assistant boss Carlos Queiroz, who was appointed last night.

Geremi said: "I have two years on my contract and I would like to fulfil them."

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