Clubs in for Carlisle

Watford and Stoke are fighting for Clarke Carlisle after Leeds accepted their bids.

Watford and Stoke are fighting for the services of Clarke Carlisle after Leeds accepted bids for the central defender.

Carlisle joined from QPR just 12 months ago and made 32 appearances, scoring five times, but manager Kevin Blackwell has been busy in the transfer market.

His summer strengthening appears to have relegated Carlisle down the Elland Road pecking order.

Blackwell intends to play Sean Gregan in the heart of defence alongside veteran captain Paul Butler and has Matthew Kilgallon and new signing Rui Marques as cover.

That means the 25-year-old Carlisle may now hold talks with Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd and new Stoke coach Johan Boskamp about a move away from Yorkshire.

Blackwell praised Carlisle for his services to Leeds on the club's official website.

He said: "We have agreed a fee with the two clubs and I do not anticipate Clarke being at the club after today.

"Clark has proved an astute signing. He finished fifth top scorer last season and played plenty of games and we stopped the slide to the division below when we were odds on to do that.

"If I see a better future for people elsewhere, then they go with our blessing and gratitude for what they have done for the football club."