Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink joined Chelsea for £15 million sterling yesterday and then revealed it was the move he wanted to make last summer. The Dutch international said Leeds would not allow him to join another Premiership club when he decided to quit Elland Road.
Atletico Madrid took him to Spain for £12 million, but he has now found his way to Stamford Bridge after the club equalled the British transfer record.
Hasselbaink said: "When I left Leeds I had an offer from Chelsea. I wanted to come here but they didn't want to let me go to another English club. So I had to leave to Atletico."
A hostile reception will await the 28-year-old striker when he returns to Elland Road.
Games between Chelsea and Leeds have been fiery encounters in recent seasons, but the return of Hasselbaink promises to add extra spice to the occasion.
Leeds fans were incensed by the nature of Hasselbaink's exit last season after scoring 34 Premiership goals in two seasons for the club he joined from Boavista in Portugal.
The Dutchman demanded a transfer and threatened to go on strike if he was not allowed to leave, but he will be back in West Yorkshire sooner than he could have imagined.
"I don't have any bad feelings towards Leeds," Hasselbaink said. "I hope they do well but I hope we do a little bit better."
Celtic director of football Kenny Dalglish insists he will not be leaving Parkhead after the appointment of Martin O'Neill as manager. Dalglish has been widely tipped to be one of the first casualties of O'Neill's clean sweep at the club.
But the former Liverpool and Blackburn boss claims he will be returning to his original post as director of football.
"From my own point of view, that's my spell as interim manager over now. I'll be moving back to my original position," said Dalglish.
"As for Martin O'Neill, I wish everything that he wishes for himself.
"I hope Martin's time at the club is very successful."
St Johnstone will offer republic of Ireland defender Alan Kernaghan (32), a new contract if he gets through the pre-season free of injury. The former Middlesbrough and Manchester City star has been out for the season with a pelvic problem and is nearing a full recovery.
Sheffield Wednesday will find out next week if they have secured a place in the UEFA Cup. The Yorkshire club, who were relegated from the Premiership, finished second in the Fair Play League to Manchester United.
With United assured of a place in the Champions League, Wednesday will go into the hat with 14 other clubs, including Shamrock Rovers, next Thursday in the hope of winning one of two UEFA Cup places on offer.
