BBC SPORT | Football | Dacourt's transfer deadline

Olivier Dacourt has said that both Juventus and Arsenal want to sign him - but that they must do so by Saturday or he will stay at Leeds.

The French midfielder has been strongly linked with Juve for several months but Leeds have been unable to agree a fee with the Italian club.

I will leave by Saturday or I'll stay at Leeds

Olivier Dacourt

And the 27-year-old has now said that Premiership champions Arsenal are also keen to sign him.

The Yorkshire club need to raise �15m by the start of the season and Dacourt, injured for long periods of last season, has been widely expected to be sold to generate that money.

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But he has made it clear that unless he is sold by Saturday he will end all speculation regarding his future by staying with the Yorkshire club.

"Other than Juventus, Arsenal are also interested, but I need to know," he told French sports newspaper L'Equipe.

"I don't want to join a squad just before the start of the league season.

"Therefore, it's clear on my part, I will leave by Saturday or I'll stay at Leeds."

Rio Ferdinand latest

Leeds are on the verge of selling midfielder Lee Bowyer to Liverpool for �9m and are likely to lose Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United for a mooted �30m.

Bowyer close to Liverpool switch

The capital raised from those two transfers may affect the Dacourt situation, as could the appointment of Terry Venables as the club's manager.

But Dacourt is adamant the situation will be resolved quickly.

"I'm giving myself another 48 hours from Thursday to negotiate and complete my transfer," Dacourt added.

New Leeds boss Terry Venables
Venables wants Dacourt to decide what he wants to do
"After that, in my head, I won't want to go. Discussions are continuing, and I am affected by time because we're leaving soon with Leeds for a 15-day tour of Australia and Hong Kong."

Dacourt's agent Bruno Satin had previously said Dacourt is happy to remain at Elland Road.

There is no question he is happy at Leeds. He likes the city and the club," said Satin.

New Leeds boss Venables said: "I believe the chairman (Peter Ridsdale) has been speaking about Olly.

"Whether that's going to go through we don't know yet. It's up to the player as well and what he wants to do."


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