Hasselbaink wants to quit Leeds

Leeds United striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has asked for a transfer after the rejection of a £10 million bid for the Dutchman by Atletico Madrid.

London club Tottenham are now considering an offer for the player if his request is granted.

The player's actions have shocked the Premiership club which has faught hard to keep the 27 year old who has so far rejected the terms of anew contract worth around £20,000 a week.

Manager David O'Leary had asked the Leeds board to reject any offers for the player who scorer 22 goals last season of he club but the player is now asking to leave Leeds after two seasons and no new contract looks likely to be signed with Hasselbaink now.

O'Leary has threatened to quit the club if Leeds accept any bid for Hasselbaink is accepted. He wants the striker to play a vital role in the coming campaign and has built a young forward line around the Dutch stars powerful talents. Leeds are considering the transfer request but rejecting it could lead to many complications with the player.

Atletico lead the chase to sign Hasselbaink but Tottenham manager George Graham signed Hasselbaink from Portuguese football in 1997 while in charge at Leeds and the two are still close. Leeds will fight against any Tottenham move though and resent Graham's capture of another Dutch player - Willem Korsten - earlier in the summer from Vitesse Arnhem after he had agreed to join Leeds following a loan spell last season.

The fee could prove Tottenham's undoing in another transfer saga that could blow up if Leeds decide to reject Hasselbaink's bid to leave in another Anelka type scenario.

Atletico were prepared to spend £10 million on the player and will have extra funds when they agree to sell Brazilian star Juninho to Manchester United or Aston Villa. They would then offer at least £12 million for Hasselbaink. Tottenham have injuries in their front line but a big cash signing in excess of £10 million is not something the London club would take on lightly.

Leeds meanwhile could see their plan for the new season - now only eight days away - wrecked by the Dutch player's intention to leave Elland Road. An attack of untried youth worked last season but the loss of Hasselbaink would stretch their young squad beyond reasonable limits with no obvious replacement around.