On an otherwise slow day for Leeds United news, we start the bank holiday with the story that a bidding war has began for Gary Hooper with Middlesbrough the first club to show their hand.

It’s believed that Leeds United are amongst a number of teams, including Celtic, Middlesbrough, Wigan and Wolves that are chasing the 22-year old Scunthorpe striker.

Hooper has, in the past, indicated his desire to join Leeds when previous speculation forced the striker to respond. He told the press that he’d be reluctant to drop a division, but some teams were too big and it’d be hard to resist.

What will worry a lot of Leeds United fans today is the suggestion that Boro have opened the bidding at £2.5m. With speculation rife that Simon Grayson has little, or no money to spend, it seems unlikely that Larry will be able to match the opening bid.

Perhaps it’s clutching at straws, but the only positive in the race so far is Hooper’s previous suggestion that he’d like to join Leeds United. Whether another club can offer the talented youngster a quicker road to the Premier League however may be the decisive factor.