New Leeds manager Terry Venables has made keeping Manchester United target central defender Rio Ferdinand one of his first priorities.
Venables, who takes over at Elland Road from David O'Leary having signed a two-year contract on Monday, told the Daily Express newspaper: "I want to keep the best players at Leeds, whoever they may be.
"Clearly there is a situation where the club has to move some players on but I want to keep the ones that can make the club better. I want to keep Rio."
Ferdinand, who cost Leeds 18 million pounds from West Ham in November 2000, has been linked with a 35 million move to Old Trafford since before this summer's World Cup in Japan and South Korea, where he was widely regarded as England's best player.
He is currently on holiday in Las Vegas.