Warnock wants hungry players for Leeds United

The Whites manager wants to leave a legacy of investments at the club so that they will not have to be rebuilding again in a year’s time, whether or not he would still be at the club.

His first capture is 24-year-old centre-back Jason Pearce, who has arrived for £500,000 from Portsmouth, on a four-year contract.

The defender has been on Warnock’s radar for some time and he is delighted to have him on board.

He said: “I’ve been worried sick about this for weeks.

“I first started looking at him when he was at Bournemouth. I tried to get him a couple of times at QPR but we missed out. When I came here we went after him in March.”

Warnock is believed to be chasing three more Portsmouth players, striker Luke Varney, defender Joel Ward and midfielder David Norris, but insists he will not be bringing players to Leeds just for one year.

He said: “I talk to the chairman and all I can do is be realistic in the players that I want. I think the players I’m going to sign will not only be good value, but will be an investment for the club as well.

“They’re not all going to be 37-year-olds giving me one year, they’re going to be hungry players and I’m hoping I can make them into better players and that there will be some who are re-saleable.

“We’ll be trying to get the blend of experience as well into that squad. When I’ve got one over the line we try and move that forward with Shaun Harvey and the chairman and try and come up with ways of doing that.

“At the same time I’m going to be doing my business on the other side, looking to thin the squad like I have done, not just releasing players, but lads transfer-listed and seeing what opportunities come to wheel and deal in that situation.”