Arsenal and Manchester United are now in a straight head-to-head battle for the signature of Leeds star Harry Kewell.
With just a year remaining on his current contract, Leeds have pulled out all the stops in an effort to keep Kewell at Elland Road, offering to make him their highest-paid player.
A stg£2.5million-per-year, two-year extension is now on the table, but after narrowly avoiding relegation last season and with no European football for Leeds ahead, such a package is not as appealing.
Although Kewell has not ruled out the possibility of staying at Leeds, it appears increasingly likely his future lies elsewhere, particularly as both Arsenal and United can offer Champions League football for the Australia international.
Kewell, along with agent Bernie Mandic, are meeting with Gunners vice chairman David Dein today to begin discussions on a proposed move to Highbury. Arsenal may head the chase, as Mandic revealed: "They have expressed an interest through me," only to add: "But then other clubs have also expressed an interest."
Although Arsene Wenger is in France commentating on the Confederations Cup for a television station, the Arsenal boss is believed to have instructed Dein to do all he can to land Kewell.
Arsenal and Wenger's problem, however, is transfer funds are limited this summer which is why a player-plus-cash deal for the #6million-rated Kewell has been suggested.
Although Leeds manager Peter Reid is interested in England Under-21 international Jermaine Pennant, Arsenal have instead offered the likes of Ray Parlour and Francis Jeffers.
Ideally, given Leeds are almost stg£80million in debt, chairman John McKenzie would prefer a money-only transfer, which is where United have an edge over Arsenal.
Kewell was known to have been monitoring David Beckham's saga, and with the England captain now having joined Real Madrid for stg£24.5million, the way is clear for a move to Old Trafford.
United chief executive Peter Kenyon is apparently now working towards attracting Kewell - among others - to the Premier League champions, given the club is armed with the Beckham cash.
But Kewell is certainly not cash driven, according to Mandic, who claims the player would have joined United by now if all he was interested in was money.
Arsenal, though, is apparently Kewell's preferred choice, particularly as the parents of his wife Sheree Murphy - who yesterday gave birth to the couple's second child - live in London.
If Kewell and Mandic can thrash out a deal with Dein, who in turn is able to agree on a suitable package with Leeds, Arsenal are likely to pip United for the winger.
Despite the prospect of losing Kewell, who would become the sixth big name to leave Leeds in 12 months following those of Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Olivier Dacourt, Robbie Fowler and Jonathan Woodgate, United fans remain firmly behind the club.
Leeds have already sold 20,000 season tickets for next season, which is on a par with the figure for this time a year ago.