Viduka heading towards Leeds exit

Mark Viduka, the striker who saved Leeds United last season, is poised to plunge the club into fresh turmoil after showdown talks about his future with Elland Road manager Peter Reid.

The Australia forward wants to quit the debt-ridden club after seeing David O'Leary's squad dismantled, which could alert Chelsea as well as Spanish and Italian admirers of the £6million-rated marksman.

While Viduka, 27, has stopped short of making a written transfer request, he has left Reid and his team-mates in no doubt that he is deeply unhappy with the club's impoverished circumstances.

Reid, unimpressed by Viduka's pre-season efforts, said: 'I've had a talk with Mark about his Leeds career but nothing official has come out of those talks.'

Viduka, who scored 14 goals in the last 10 matches to rescue Leeds from relegation, was hauled off at half-time in Sunday's dismal 4-2 defeat at Burnley.

Reid warned his players that he will jettison anyone not prepared to give total commitment, but the fact that the ultimatum applied to Viduka contradicts chairman John McKenzie's claim that he is not for sale.