Terry Venables wants to make Nick Barmby his first Leeds signing by the end of the week, claims The Sun.
The paper says the Leeds boss is prepared to splash out £3m (€4.8m) on the Liverpool midfielder.
Barmby is said to be desperate to leave Anfield after starting just seven games last season.
The Sun also says Venables is set to step up his efforts to sign Darren Anderton for around £5m (€8m), offering Irish international Robbie Keane as part of a swap deal.