Keane told he can leave Leeds

Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane can leave Leeds United if the club receives a suitable offer, manager Terry Venables…

Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane can leave Leeds United if the club receives a suitable offer, manager Terry Venables said today.

Unsettled Keane has started United's first two league games on the bench, but came on to score against Manchester City on the opening day of the season.

"If there's any interest I will look at it and if he doesn't want to be here, I would feel the same," Venables said.

"If someone wants to come to me and make something possible on the club's terms, it's possible it could go through."

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Keane, who turned down a move to Sunderland before the start of the season, said at the weekend he was unhappy at not playing regular first-team football.

The 22-year-old, who joined the Yorkshire club from Inter Milan for £13 million in December 2000, is one of five strikers at Leeds and with Robbie Fowler and Michael Bridges nearing full fitness his chances of a starting place could recede further.

Venables believes the closing of the transfer window could have forced Keane's hand in making his frustrations public so early in the season.

"He had a great World Cup and comes back and wants to show. I didn't really expect it after two games, but then again maybe normally he wouldn't have said it if there wasn't only a week left to a transfer deadline," added Venables.

"But it's running out of time now and I would think, at this stage, nothing will happen."