The Leeds manager David O'Leary is seemingly resigned to losing Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United but wants more than £30 million to soften the blow.
O'Leary will shortly meet the centre back to discuss his future after a World Cup punctuated by speculation that Ferdinand will go to Old Trafford for a British record transfer fee this summer.
At those talks, O'Leary said: "If Rio tells me he thinks that Manchester United are a bigger club and that he wants to go on to another level, then what can you do? Keep an unhappy player?
"If, professionally, Rio wants to do that then you have got to respect a player's wishes."
O'Leary, in his Sunday newspaper column, insists he does not want to let Ferdinand - "a sensational footballer" - leave, but concedes that, "ultimately the decision rests with the Leeds plc" and that, given the need to balance the books, a huge offer might prove irresistible.
The manager would want more than £30 million. Ferdinand, who cost £18 million when he moved from West Ham two years ago, has enhanced his value with his superb perfomances in the Far East and, O'Leary argues, will go on improving for the next five years, reaching his peak at 28.
Of Ferdinand's possible destination, O'Leary said: "Let's be honest, he will know all about Manchester United.
"He has been away for five weeks with the likes of David Beckham and Nicky Butt, and there are people close to Rio who are also close to Sir Alex Ferguson."
He added that he was sure United would act correctly, that they would go "through all the right channels".
United's chairman Martin Edwards yesterday did nothing to discourage a move by Ferguson for the Leeds player.
"There's no secret that Rio Ferdinand is a great player and would certainly improve our squad," said Edwards. "Whether Leeds are prepared to sell Rio Ferdinand, that's another matter."
Brazilian forward Ronaldo, who is fighting to shake off an injury to his left thigh in time for Wednesday's semi-final against Turkey, said yesterday that he was more tired than his team-mates.
"I went two years without playing and, now that we have played a lot of games in a short space of time, I'm more tired than the others," he said in an interview with a Japanese television station at the Brazil team hotel.
"But I'm fine, I'm recovering and in two or three days' time I will be better." After a long injury lay-off, he has played five games in 16 days at the World Cup and has surpassed expectations by scoring five goals.
He went off during the second half of the 2-1 win over England because of the pain in his thigh after failing to score in a game for the first time at the World Cup.
Earlier yesterday, Brazil's team doctor Jose Luis Runco refused to guarantee that the twice FIFA world footballer of the year would play against the Turks.
But Runco said that the pain had subsided after Ronaldo underwent physiotherapy and took anti-inflammatory tablets.
"We are going to use good sense," said Runco who described Ronaldo's problem as something which could affect any athlete and is not connected with any of his previous injuries.
Luizao will replace Ronaldo if he cannot play against the Turks.
Brazil will be without Ronaldinho against Turkey after his red card against England, but his one-match ban means he could play in the final if Brazil get there.
South Korea's leading scorer Ahn Jung-hwan missed training yesterday because of an ankle injury. Kim Nam-il also missed practice with an ankle problem.
For Germany, Deitmar Hamann is the only injury doubt after twisting ligaments in his right knee against the United States.
Coventry's Swedish goalkeeper Magnus Hedman claims to have agreed terms on a move to Spanish club Espanyol.
"Now it's up to the two clubs to decide terms, but I am sure Coventry are willing to sell me now, because next year I will go free," Hedman said.
