Manchester United are expected to step in for Rio Ferdinand after Leeds last night admitted they would consider offers for their captain, despite rejecting a transfer request from the England centre-half.

After three days deliberating with his family, Ferdinand yesterday faxed a transfer request to the Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale and received a predictably stony response from the Elland Road board. Ridsdale flew home from a holiday in France last night and will meet the player for talks when he reports back for pre-season training this morning.

United will wait until the outcome of that meeting is clear before launching an improved bid. Despite seeing a £20 million offer dismissed as "derisory" earlier this month, they remain confident that Leeds would be willing to accept around £30 million for the player.

"Rio asked for a transfer and we have answered the question frankly by rejecting his request and now expect him to honour his contract," said Ridsdale. However, there is pressure on him to ease the club's financial situation as Lee Bowyer's proposed £9 million move to Liverpool appears no nearer completion after another fruitless day of talks over personal terms.

"We received an offer some weeks ago but that was rejected out of hand as we felt it to be derisory," Ridsdale said of Ferdinand. "But we are a public company and I have a duty to shareholders to maximise the value of our assets. If we receive any reasonable offers for any of our players, including Rio Ferdinand, we will consider it and debate it, although that is not the position at the moment."

That situation is likely to change rapidly. While Manchester United were refusing to comment on whether a new bid was to be made, Ferdinand's agent Pinhas Zahavi last night said he understood an improved offer from the Old Trafford club was imminent.

"Manchester United recently approached Leeds and I believe that they will do so again, probably soon," he said. "Rio would be very happy to go to United - he wants to be competing for titles and medals.

"We shall now wait and see what happens. If Leeds say he cannot go then he will honour his contract - but don't forget his contract has a get-out clause which allows him to go at the end of next season (to a foreign club for £25 million). All he is asking is to be allowed to go a year early. He feels it is important that he plays at a better club."

After making his decision Ferdinand travelled back to Yorkshire from his family's home in Peckham, south London. "For the past three days I have been torn apart," he said. "I love Leeds and the people of Leeds. The club took a huge risk on me and I will never forget that." That is unlikely to appease the Leeds fans, who will consider the potential £10 million purchase of Valencia's Roberto Ayala little consolation.

The Argentinian's agent Fernando Hidalgo travelled to England yesterday to prepare for possible talks. "The club is interested but it all depends on whether Ferdinand's transfer is completed," he said. "Ayala is one of the main candidates to replace him." Guardian Service.