Grayson challenges Beckford

Beckford: Can't stop scoring

Simon Grayson has challenged Jermaine Beckford to keep scoring for Leeds in order to get the best possible move for himself in the summer.

The 26-year-old has said he is staying with the League One promotion hopefuls until the end of the season when his contract expires, having previously stated a desire to quit Elland Road for pastures new.

Beckford saw his stock rise even higher at the weekend as he scored twice as Leeds earned a 2-2 draw at Premier League Tottenham to set up an FA Cup fourth round replay, adding to the winner he netted in the previous round at Manchester United.

Everton are thought to be leading the race to secure his signature - but Grayson is happy for his striker to raise his profile further as it will mean success in getting out of League One or progressing in the cup.

"It would have to be a lot of money because we have turned down decent money already for him," Grayson said. "Jermaine wants to stay and finish the job off.

"If someone comes in with ridiculous money - and I'm talking a lot more than £2million - then we'd look at it again. But I've got no intention of selling him in the window because it's too late to get a replacement and he's too valuable to lose.

"Jermaine can only win because if he scores 15 to 20 goals until the end of the season he will be linked with bigger clubs than he's being linked with now."

Scot impresses

Beckford stole the headlines for his goals at White Hart Lane, but Robert Snodgrass also caught the eye and is now attracting similar interest.

Snodgrass pulled the strings as a deep-lying forward behind the striker, giving an example of why a number of Premier League clubs are also thought to be monitoring his progress.

The 22-year-old Scot said: "It actually shows you we are on the way up and can compete with these Premier League stars and against a top-class side. But it's up to us now to produce in the league and try to get up.

"You want to try and play the highest you possibly can and I played against Liverpool in the Carling Cup this year and felt comfortable, and felt comfortable playing against Tottenham. It was my job to try and create a few things."

While Beckford looks set to leave Leeds at the end of the season when his contract runs out, Snodgrass, however, is happy to put talk of departures to one side.

"It's up to us to get that nonsense out of our head, we've got a job to do for Leeds," he said.

"If Leeds want to sell anybody I'm sure they would take it up with the player."