FERDINAND UPDATE

Tottenham's Les says that this season will probably be his last:

"I've not yet made a concrete decision but I am certainly thinking this could be my last year in football.

"I am a realist and it's fair to say I am in the twilight of my career.

"If I go out, I want to go out with a bang. Despite my problems last season, I still managed 15 goals.

"That was my best return for Spurs since I've been there and I still feel there are more than a few goals left in me."

Okay, about Rio:

The man himself (taken from The People):

Before taking flight BA3186 from Nice to London last night, Ferdinand told People Sport: "I feel great again now and I'm really looking forward to getting back into things at Leeds.

"Of course I'll be seeing Terry Venables to talk things over. I'll never forget that Terry called me to join up with one of his England squads when I was a very young kid.

"Will that make a difference to what we discuss? Can't really say, I'm afraid."

Asked if he is in turmoil, he responded: "I've been too busy trying to relax, get the World Cup out of my mind and put myself right for the new season."

People Sport can reveal that Old Trafford's top brass are convinced Ferdinand will join them by the end end of the week in a British record £30m transfer deal. They plan to unveil him before their friendly against Irish club Shelbourne next week.

But last night a source close to Tel said: "He isn't giving up on Rio until he is told face to face by the player himself that he doesn't want to play for Leeds any more."

Ridsdale:

Peter Ridsdale has warned Sir Alex Ferguson that he is 'wasting his time' if he wishes to continue his efforts to sign defender Rio Ferdinand. Manchester United manager Ferguson admitted he is committed to bringing the Leeds centre-half to Old Trafford. But Ridsdale promised to resist, saying: 'You can tell him from me that he is wasting his time.' (The Mail)

Venables in The NOTW:

"Rio is still young and, unless I've got him badly wrong, he still hasn't lost that feeling. We know he wants to win things, we know he wants to be at the top. Well, I'll tell him he is at the top playing for Leeds United.

"This is a great club, a huge club — that's underlined by the reception I've received this week — and I do not want him to go anywhere else. I believe he belongs here.

"If a player joins a club that's constantly winning things, it's like latching on to someone else's achievements.

"Rio has a chance here of being involved in something that's new, and that's far more exciting — shaping the entire future of this club. That's the way players become legends. I want Rio's name to always be associated with a great Leeds team and it's my job to make that happen.

"I do not want him to go anywhere. He has a contract and I think it's fair that contract is honoured — otherwise what's the point in having them?

"I have never walked out on a player's or a managerial contract. Yes, there are times when you have to move on and when Rio left West Ham it was a progression and it seemed an acceptable thing to do.

"Rio's still very young and there's still plenty of time for him to do other things but sometimes it's pay-back time. People may not believe this of me, but I believe if you spend a lot of money on someone, like Leeds did on Rio, then they are entitled to pay-back time. By that I don't mean money, I mean honouring the contract."

The Mirror:

Ferguson had his scouts monitoring Ferdinand when he was on loan from West Ham to Bournemouth.

Mel Machin was Bournemouth boss at the time - he's now the club's director of football - and he recalls: "Manchester United were aware of him when he was here. They had him watched and spoke to West Ham, who weren't interested in selling. But that's how good Rio was even then.

"He was coming up to his 17th birthday when I brought him to Bournemouth on loan. As soon as I worked with him I thought he was an international of the future - no doubt about it.

"He spent two months with us and I gave him a nickname - I called him Class. And he has lived up to it. He's been compared to the late, great Bobby Moore, but I would say Rio is now even better because of his all-round game."

Ferdinand returned to West Ham to become an England international and the most expensive player in the country at the time when he moved to Leeds for £18million 20 months ago.

Manchester United had maintained their interest in Ferdinand, but at the time they were happy with Jaap Stam as their defensive kingpin. Now Ferguson is aiming to land Ferdinand at last and, despite the persuasive powers of Terry Venables, the Old Trafford boss is favourite to hit his target.