SMITH LINKED TO JUVENTUS

Smith, has apparently been watched several times by the Juventus chief scout, Franco Cerevalo, and representatives from the Turin club were present for Leeds` Uefa cup tie against Roma - a match in which Smith made a late substitute appearance.

Juventus have been linked with a string of striking talents from around the globe - including Parma`s prolific Hernan Crespo and former Aston Villa star Savo Miloseveic, currently playing his football in Spain for Real Zaragossa.

Indeed, Juventus were strongly linked to current Leeds target John Carew earlier in the season.

19-year-old Smith, who has found himself without a regular first-team place in the talented Leed United squad, has recently signed a five-year-contract with the Yorkshire club and has admitted that he is happy at Elland Road.

However, the arrival of another striker - something that Leeds Chairman Peter Ridsdale has publicly stated as a goal for the club - will push the prodigious marksman further down the squad list, and this may have alerted the Serie A side to the possibility of the transfer.

Patrick Goss