Robert Snodgrass has left Leeds' training camp in Cornwall to begin talks with Premier League club Norwich City, manager Neil Warnock has confirmed.
The club captain, who featured in Monday's 6-0 friendly thumping of Tavistock, parted company with his team-mates on Wednesday morning to put the finishing touches on a deal believed to be in the region of £3 million.
New Canaries boss Chris Hughton had previously revealed that he had had an offer for the midfielder knocked back, but his opposite number confirmed that Snodgrass is currently discussing terms with the Norfolk side.
"I can honestly say that, in all my time in football, I've never worked as hard in trying to keep a player"
- Neil Warnock |
"Negotiations have been going on for weeks," Warnock told Leeds' official website.
"I was hoping he would have had a change of heart and I can honestly say that, in all my time in football, I've never worked as hard in trying to keep a player.
"He was offered the best contract, the captaincy, and we would have built a team around him so I am very disappointed."
The 24-year-old winger moved to Elland Road in 2008 from Scottish First Division side Livingston and went on to make 168 appearances, scoring 35 goals in the process
Snodgrass was named both Leeds Fans' and Players' Player of the Year last season and Warnock is evidently disappointed to lose one of his most prized assets.
The manager added: "He's made it clear what he wants to do and he's had his head turned. He wants to play in the Premier League.
"He believes his Scotland international career may be better served in the Premier League, but I'm not so sure.
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"He's always said he wants to play in the Premier League, although I'm not sure it's a great move because I think another year would have suited him. But he's in the last year of his contract and players are in the charge of the situation at that stage.
"Unfortunately, you can't keep a player if he wants to go. You can do your best, but your hands are tied sometimes, and we've tried every way we can to get him to stay, but in the end it wasn't possible."
Snodgrass now looks set to follow the footsteps of former Elland Road team-mate Jonny Howson, who joined the Canaries in January.
