Leeds United set for world record bid to sign Ferdinand

Leeds United are to raise their offer for England defender Rio Ferdinand to a world record £18 million.

Leeds have already failed in two bids for the West Ham star already this season with £12 million and £15 million offers failing to tempt the London club to sell their main asset.

Now Leeds - who lost 1-0 at home to West Ham on Saturday - want to raise their bid for the player as they try to strengthen their Champions League squad.

West Ham value Ferdinand at £18 million but have only hinted so far that a foreign bid from FC Barcelona could succeed but they do not want to see Ferdinand go to a Premiership rival though.

With transfer deals in Europe stalling as the EU and FIFA discuss the status of the entire transfer system which EU commissioner Mario Monti wants to ban as restrictive and anti-competitive, big money transfers could be rarer in future with West Ham risking a collapse in the transfer value for their international star.

Long regarded as one of the best young prospects in Europe, the player has found it hard to establish himself in the national team under Glenn Hoddle and Kevin Keegan as both coaches favoured 4-42 which left no place for the sweeper.

Ferdinand gave a reasonably assured performance for England against Italy last week and is regarded as a certainty in future international matches if England stick with five defenders.

West Ham have introduced the Peckham-born player since the age of 17 into their first team and he has played a variety of positions. Many English clubs have been linked with Ferdinand who signed a new West Ham contract last year to increase his earnings and AC Milan also showed interest earlier this year after he impressed Franco Baresi with one of his many outings for the under-21 team.

Leeds host European champions Real Madrid on Wednesday night in the second stage of their Champions League campaign and have £30 million to spend on new players despite doubts over the transfer systems's future which have frozen new signings by Arsenal and Manchester United.