We have been linked with a couple of new players in today’s media, but if there is any truth in these stories Massimo Cellino must be funding the club even though his takeover has yet to be approved.

England international goalkeeper Jack Butland, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Barnsley from Stoke City, could be coming to Elland Road on loan, according to the Daily Mail. The 20 year-old moved to the Potters from Birmingham in the summer and played in their first four games of the season, but has been confined to the bench since Asmir Begovic returned to fitness.

Now it seems that Butland is keen for another temporary move elsewhere to get some more first team football. For his part Brian McDermott may well want to bring another keeper to the club because Paddy Kenny’s form has been rather dodgy in recent games. He was at fault for a couple of the goals in the thrashing at Hillsborough and got away with a couple of errors at Yeovil which could have proved costly on another day.

The manager has also been looking to improve his strikeforce during the last month, and today The Ulster Herald is reporting that Leeds are likely to sign promising young Glenavon striker Robbie McDaid. The 18-year old came off the bench to score twice in a 4-2 win over Portadown in their 4-2 win on Saturday, and the paper are claiming that the move will be announced in the next 48 hours.

But where is the money coming from to pay for two new players, when we are losing £1 million a month and fast running out of cash? It’s already been reported that Cellino lent the club the cash to pay the wages for February, so if we’re adding to that wage bill we can only assume that he has promised to pick up the tab.

The Italian expected his takeover to be rubber-stamped by the League when he met them last week, but there has been no news since and in fact it could be several weeks before the League announce their decision. All which leaves the question of where we will be if the League refuse to sanction the takeover, if Cellino is already bankrolling the club.

Many Leeds fans have grudgingly accepted that Cellino may be our only hope of keeping out of administration, despite the reservations that we all have about him. But in the meantime Mike Farnan is continuing to insist that his group is backed by some big companies in the city and will have the resources to take over if they get the chance. And if Cellino is turned down we’re just going to have to pray that is true.

Photo: Action Images

Port Vale Polls