Leeds Desperate To Keep Wonderkid Delph as Newcastle Loom

Leeds United have vowed to use all their financial muscle to keep wonder kid Fabian Delph at Elland Road.

United chairman Ken Bates on Tuesday revealed he has already batted off a bid from Newcastle—believed to be £6million—for the 18-year-old midfielder who has sensationally exploded on to the League One scene this season.

The Bradford-born star has not only being attracting the interest of Newcastle and Arsenal, Stoke, and Bolton are all believed to have been keeping tabs on his progress and Bates can expect more interest in the January transfer window.

"I'm still amazed at a recent offer Newcastle made for Fabian," he told Yorkshire Radio. "I won't tell you the content of the fax we sent back but it did end the conversation.

"It's inevitable if the team does well predatory upper league clubs will try their luck without success.

"Fabian Delph will be moving to Premier League—but we hope he'll be moving with us via the Championship.

"He signed a four-year contract until 2012 and he doesn't want to go anywhere."

Delph has netted three times for the Whites this season including two long-range strikes in the 3-0 win over Walsall and his pace and technical ability have seen him called up for England's Under-19s.

One club who are keen for Delph to move on are neighbours Bradford City, where Delph started his career. The Bantams are in line for a six-figure fee with the League Two outfit having what's believed to be between a 10% and 20% sell-on clause.

But Delph is believed to be a boyhood Manchester United fan and the football odds would not be upset if the Red Devils made an approach in the next 12 months.