Football: Leeds reject pounds 30m Rio bid.

Byline: MARTYN ZIEGLER

MANCHESTER UNITED were last night fighting to prise Rio Ferdinand away from Leeds after the Elland Road club rejected a pounds 30m bid for the England defender.

The Manchester club contacted Leeds yesterday with an improved offer for Ferdinand, following their original pounds 20m bid which was rejected out of hand.

The second offer - understood to be for pounds 30m - would have been a British transfer record, substantially more than the pounds 28.1m paid for Juan Sebastian Veron, but Leeds rejected the new bid for their 23-year-old captain too.

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale said: ``I have had one conversation with them (Manchester United) today but it did not move the situation on any further.

``We have still to receive a bid of a level that we would find acceptable.''

It is understood Manchester United are discussing making an even higher bid, mindful of the fact that unless they agree a fee Ferdinand is due to fly out on Leeds' 10-day pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia.

Ferdinand's advisers are understood to be shocked that Leeds turned down such a high offer, especially at a time when transfer fees are on the slide across much of Europe.

They are also believed to feel it is now impossible for Ferdinand to stay at Leeds under any circumstances.

Ferdinand, who signed for Leeds from West Ham for pounds 18m in November 2000 - a record between British clubs - will be looking to double his pounds 35,000-a-week wages if, as now seems certain, he moves down the M62 to Manchester.

His decision to move will be a major disappointment to new Leeds boss Terry Venables, who was hoping to build his team around England's best defender.