£18m Rio bid accepted

  • by Graeme Howlett
  • Monday, 20th November 2000

Hammers boss Harry Redknapp has sensationally confirmed this evening that West Ham have accepted a world record £18m offer from Leeds United for Rio Ferdinand.

The bid would represent a world record transfer fee for a defender, eclipsing the £10.5m Manchester United paid for Jaap Stam in 1999.

Redknapp confirmed the news all Hammers fans have been dreading when he said via the official site tonight:

""Leeds have come back in and made an £18m offer and obviously it's a lot of money. 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.

However, Redknapp was keen to add: "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 £18m breaks all sorts of records really and it's a difficult one to turn down."

The only stumbling block appears to be Rio's apparent reluctance to move northwards. He has already revealed in private that he wouldn't exactly relish a move up the A1.

"I spoke to Rio this morning and he wanted to have a chat with his mum and dad to see what he wants to do," added Redknapp. "No-one is pushing him either way: it's his decision and his life.

"We can't lose - it's a lovely position to be in where you get offered £18m for one of your players. It's an offer from a business point of view that you can't refuse.

"Resources are resources, it's a small ground, and you can't keep everybody... if the transfer system falls apart in a couple of months we're going to look very foolish so I can understand where the Chairman is coming from.

"I'm not in a position to say 'no, we're not going to take £18m. From a business point of view it's an offer the club can't refuse and I understand and accept that."

Leeds Chairman Peter Ridsdale, who has been instrumental in concluding the deal had said earlier today: "The situation with Rio is that we have tabled an offer about which everybody is aware.

"We played them on Saturday and he had a very good game, and I took the opportunity to have a word with Terry Brown then about where we go from here.

"To date the price has not been the issue - the issue has been that West Ham have said they did not want to sell him.

"If they change their mind and say they are prepared to sell him I would like to feel we could match their valuation, so let's ask West Ham where they are at."

More on this as and when it happens.

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