Barmby close to Venables reunion

Nick Barmby will become Terry Venables's first signing for Leeds United AFC providing he completes a medical and agrees personal terms after the Yorkshire club agreed a fee of €4.35m with Liverpool FC for the England midfield player.

Arrived in Leeds
Joining Leeds would reunite the Hull-born player with Venables, who was manager at Tottenham Hotspur FC when Barmby began his professional career. The 28-year-old Barmby arrived at the FA Premiership club's Thorp Arch training ground today to begin his medical.

Barmby 'admired'
Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale plans to meet Barmby's agent tomorrow to discuss personal terms if the medical is completed without any problems. "Nick is a player Terry admires and wants," Ridsdale said. "He has been playing Harry Kewell in a different position and that has created an imbalance - hopefully Nick will help redress that. Fingers crossed we hope to have him signed by Thursday morning."

Knockout success
Barmby played just nine times for Liverpool in the 2001/02 campaign before undergoing an ankle operation which ruled him out for the season. His €9.5m move from Everton FC to Liverpool in 2000 caused a furore on Merseyside - he was the first player to move from Everton to their city rivals since Dave Hickson in 1959 - but success in three knockout competitions the following season vindicated Barmby's decision to cross the divide.