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Sky Sports is claiming that Leeds United are lining up a move for former Bristol City striker Darren Byfield who is, unexpectedly, now a free agent.

Although fourth-placed Bristol City reached the Championship Play-off final at Wembley, defeat by Hull City means another season in the second tier and the reaction of the Ashton gate club has been to release their top scorer after just one season in the Robins shirt!

Admittedly, Byfield only netted eight times as top scorer last season and City may see that lack of goals in their squad as the reason they finished fourth instead of gaining automatic promotion, but the numbers do not point to Byfield being the weak link.

Byfield scored eight goals in 17 starts plus 16 subs; a former Leeds target Dele Adebola scored 6 in 16 starts and one sub appearance, McIndoe scored only 5 in 45 starts and Elliot got only 5 in 44 starts plus one sub; finally former Swansea City superstar, Lee Trundle, got just 5 in 21 starts plus 14 subs - and its Byfield who walks?

So the Jamaican international played his part in City’s promotion push and is available but will he move to Leeds? Swansea City and Doncaster Rovers have been linked to 31 year-old Byfield and notionally have the advantage of being in the Championship, however, football is about money - which means it is down to Leeds to say, in money terms, whether they want Byfield more than the others.

Is an eight goal-a-season striker good enough for Leeds United - over to you!

Matt Heath has moved to Colchester United permanently.

Matt was signed by Dennis Wise in 2007, after a loan spell, but fell out of favour in January 2008. Wise’s successor, Gary McAllister didn’t give him much of a chance before sending him out on loan to the U’s in March.

Despite relegation from the Championship, Colchester have decided to make Matt a permanent fixture at Layer Road and he becomes the first departure from Elland Road this summer.

Matty told BBC Essex,

“It was a pretty easy decision to be honest, having been playing down here for the past couple of weeks whilst on loan. For them to show interest in wanting to sign me made it pretty easy.”

Matt Heath’s career record to date can be found here - Matt Heath Leeds United Playing Record

Henry Winter in the Telegraph pointed out today that Stoke City, who achieved promotion to the Premier League yesterday (congratulations) feature three former Leeds United players in their ranks.

However, former United captain, signed by David O’Leary, Dominic Matteo hasn’t played since November due to long-term injury.

Danny Pugh arrived at Stoke on a loan deal from Preston, which was made permanent in January, for £500,000. Pugh had joined Preston from Leeds when, incredibly, we allowed him to leave on a free transfer after the play-off final debacle! The former Manchester United trainee made just 34 starts for Leeds in two years - he was part of the exchange deal that took Alan Smith to Old Trafford - but has already made 27 starts for Stoke since November 2007! We wish him well in the top league next year.

Last season Richard Cresswell left us, after an injury plagued stay at Elland Road, but he has played a major part in Stoke’s promotion. Starting 42 league games (plus one sub) he has netted 12 times for Stoke.

The official Leeds website is stating that we had the foresight to include a £200,000 promotion clause in the deal that took Richard to Stoke! So McAllister has already got some cash in the transfer kitty even before the play-off cash rolls in.