O'Leary will go through the contract terms thrashed out between his solicitor Michael Kennedy and Ridsdale ahead of the game with Chelsea, and Ridsdale is hoping to make an announcement afterwards.

If O'Leary does put pen to paper at Elland Road tomorrow he is likely to get an estimated £12m to go in for the trio of players he has already admitted United need.

However it is not the sort of cash available to Gianluca Vialli at Stamford Bridge.

"You look at their team and there's an abundance of quality," said the catertaker.

"We're all wondering if Ken Bates has money growing on a tree somewhere at the back of Stamford Bridge."

O'Leary hoping for good run against Chelsea to continue

O'Leary needs to end a run of six league and cup games without a win, three of which have been under his command.

Leeds have not won since their UEFA Cup first round first leg tie at home to Maritimo on September 15, but their recent record against Chelsea is impressive.

Two goalless draws at Stamford Bridge have been interspersed with wins at home.

O'Leary added: "It will be a tough game, but we've done well against them in recent seasons and long may that continue."

Teenage goalkeeper Paul Robinson could be handed a shock debut as Nigel Martyn is extremely doubtful with a rib problem and regular deputy Mark Beeney is out for the season through injury.

Vialli stands by strikers

Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli has given his three main strikers a public vote of confidence ahead of the game - despite just four goals between them all season.

Brian Laudrup, Gianfranco Zola and Pierluigi Casiraghi look a fearsome sight on paper yet their tally does not match up to the money they earn.

Laudrup is still to open his account for the club, and Casiraghi has scored once.

Zola started brightly enough but has not hit the target in the past four games.

Despite this Chelsea are well-placed in the league and are unbeaten since the opening day of the season.

The goals have mainly come from midfielder Gustavo Poyet and defender Frank Leboeuf, while Tore Andre Flo remains on the bench despite a double-strike at Blackburn.

Thursday night's Cup Winners' Cup tie saw centre-back Marcel Desailly come to the rescue with a late equaliser.

Vialli declared: "It does not matter who scores, not from my point of view, it doesn't make any difference.

"I can see when players make unselfish runs for somebody else, I really appreciate that, so even if you are not on the scoresheet, I know that somebody is doing a good job for the team."

Laudrup says he can play alongside Zola

Laudrup firmly believes that he and Zola can work well together in the same team, despite their similarities.

The former Danish international said: "In some ways we are similar because we both want to create something and we both want the ball as often as possible.

"But I think it's great to have players like that and personally I love to play with Gianfranco because he is an outstanding player."

Graeme Le Saux will miss Sunday's game through suspension with Celestine Babayaro likely to deputise.