Blues miss out as Derry deal done

Leeds United last night salvaged the Shaun Derry deal by agreeing with his Premiership club Crystal Palace a one-month loan, with view to a permanent deal.

Earlier in the day, it looked as though their attempt to capture the 26-year-old midfielder, also an Ipswich Town loan target, had collapsed.

But even if agreement had not been finally reached later in the evening, Town boss Joe Royle had already ruled out making a last-minute swoop.

He claimed: "They were quite adamant that they would not let him go on loan and were only interested in getting a fee for Shaun.

"Shaun was on the shortlist and we tried to get him on loan but that is dead now," he said.

Derry, who has started just one Premiership match for the Eagles this season, will cost the Championship club around £250,000 once the permanent transfer is complete and is available to make his debut against Watford at Elland Road tonight.

The former Portsmouth and Sheffield United player has agreed personal terms and passed a medical at the Thorp Arch training ground on Monday.

Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell believes Derry will be a useful addition to his squad following the capture of Sean Gregan from West Brom two months ago.

He said: "I'm delighted that Shaun is joining the Whites at Elland Road.

"His track record for Portsmouth and Crystal Palace has been impressive and his experience in the middle of the park will go a long way to strengthening our squad."

With Tommy Miller looking likely to be available for Brighton's visit on Saturday, there is less urgency to bring someone in but Royle would not rule it out completely.

He said: "There is nothing imminent but it is not totally out of the question."

Dean Bowditch is Town's biggest injury doubt as he struggles to recover from a kick on the lower part of an ankle.