Roque Junior to discuss Leeds loan

Milan have confirmed that the Brazilian defender Roque Junior is travelling to Leeds to discuss a year-long loan deal with the Premiership club.

The Italian club's director general, Ariedo Braida, said that negotiations were well advanced. "Before the signature and the ratification of the contract - which has not yet happened - Roque Junior will be going this evening to England to make personal contact with the club," he said.

"But we must underline there is nothing signed, nothing definitive."

The defender, who turns 27 on Sunday, was a member of Brazil's World Cup-winning squad. If the Leeds manager, Peter Reid, pulls off the transfer it will represent his most significant signing so far, with the Cameroon midfielder Salomon Olembé also poised to join Leeds on a season-long loan from Marseille.

The main stumbling block for Reid with regard to Roque Junior's move is the player's wages, understood to be £40,000 a week at Milan after his transfer in the summer of 2000 from Palmeiras, although it is hoped a compromise can be reached.