As the transfer window nears it’s close, the rumours linking Jermaine Beckford with a move elsewhere get increasingly more ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t be suprised to see Bates cash in on our star-striker, who has already scored three in three this season, but I’m struggling to believe the two stories that have emerged in the last 48 hours or so.

The first comes from the London Informer and claims Ken Bates has demanded £10m from Queen’s Park Rangers for Jermaine. Although struggling Championship side, QPR would probably be the right level for Becks, the story could have been written by Dan Brown for all the credibility it deserves. They back up their claim by quoting the ever-reliable “unnamed source.”

The next one is the link with Bolton Wanderers and a £2.5m deal. This one could have some truth to it but I’m struggling to see what Bolton see in him. I’m a big fan of Becks, but really can’t see him making it in the Premier League, so for me, this would be a gamble at best. Bolton’s manager, Megson is refusing to say much over the rumour so there could be some truth to it, but I remain unconvinced.

The first rumour can be totally written off. Throughout the entire transfer window that has to be the most laughable thing I’ve heard. The second one I can’t see being true either. Beckford is not a Premier League striker by any stretch of the imagination. He hasn’t got the first touch for the top flight or the finishing ability. He gets a lot more chances at Leeds than he will in the Premiership and his conversion rate simply isn’t high enough. Having said that, maybe Megson is seeing something I’m not?

The closure of the transfer window can’t come soon enough. Hopefully Becks will still be a Leeds player by that point and we can focus on the season without all these distractions. Having said that, if he is still a Leeds player and hasn’t signed a new contract by January we’ll have to go through this all again as he’ll be able to sign a pre-contract with any other club at that point.