Rio Ferdinand has revealed he faces "the biggest decision of his career" following West Ham's acceptance of a £18 million bid from Leeds - a world record for a defender.
Ferdinand will meet Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale to discuss the prospect of a £22,000-per-week, five-year deal, which would make him one of the club's highest-paid players.
But despite Leeds being on the brink of ending their six-month pursuit of Ferdinand, the 22-year-old insists he will not be rushed into ending his 10-year association with West Ham. "It's D-Day for me," said Ferdinand. "This is easily the biggest decision I've had to make in my career."
He added: "Obviously, I'll be speaking to everybody who has my interests at heart, but so far the only people I have discussed this with are my family.
"They have said they will support me in whatever I decide to do and one thing is certain, I won't be rushing into a decision."
Speaking on his personal website, Ferdinand added: "I haven't spoken to Leeds or anybody else apart from the family. That's where it is at the moment.
"Believe me, I will weigh up every single option before I decide one way or the other."
Ridsdale believes the fee - raised by £3 million from an initial £15 million - for Ferdinand underlines his desire to turn Leeds into a British and European power.
The figure shatters the previous record for a defender of £13 million paid by Roma for Argentinean Walter Samuel. It also represents a British best after the £15 million deals for Alan Shearer and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
With £12 million down and the remaining £6 million paid over a period of time, it also explodes the myth often trumpeted by Leeds manager David O'Leary that his club do not have the financial resources to compete with United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Ridsdale is confident Ferdinand's hoped-for arrival will signal the start of a new revolution at Leeds - one which will ensure the club win trophies at home and abroad.
"Agreeing a fee, which is not only a British record but also a world record for a defender, demonstrates unequivocally our determination to become a leading force in both the Premiership and in Europe," said Ridsdale.
"Often in the past we have been criticised for not backing the desires of managers with money. No longer can that accusation be levelled.
"Even before Ferdinand comes into the equation we have spent £46million on players in the two years that David O'Leary has been in charge. That is also testimony to the belief we have in David's qualities as a manager.
"There is some work to do before Rio becomes a Leeds player. He is a London boy who lived with his parents for a long time and has been with the same club since he was 12. "But the biggest steps forward are that the fee has been agreed and that we have permission to talk to him. Without those things nothing could have happened."
If Ferdinand moves he would be eligible for the last four games of Leeds' Champions League second-phase campaign, starting with the home game against Anderlecht on February 13th.
West Ham manager Harry Redknapp, meanwhile, is still holding on to the slim hope Ferdinand will snub Leeds and stay, realising it will be a wrench for him to quit a club where he has spent his entire career.
"This is as difficult for me as it is for everybody else attached to the club," said Redknapp. "The truth is that Rio Ferdinand is utterly irreplaceable. I could be losing a fantastic player - a special talent."
He added: "Rio now has a massive, massive decision to make and it's going to be very tough for him. He's always been very happy with West Ham and nothing has changed."
Meanwhile, Scottish champions Rangers will today complete the £12million signing of Tore Andre Flo on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
The Chelsea hitman flew into Glasgow yesterday for discussions with the Ibrox club and underwent a stringent medical.
A few minor details are yet to be ironed out, but Rangers chairman David Murray is confident of unveiling the 27-year-old Norwegian striker at a press conference later today.
