DANNY Cadamarteri will today become Leeds United's fifth signing of the summer if the Bradford City striker passes a final medical.

He is due to follow Danny Pugh, Julian Joachim, Paul Butler and Clarke Carlisle to Elland Road.

The former Everton striker is Bradford's second highest earner and has two years of his contract to run.

Bradford are so keen to offload him from their wage bill that they are paying him to leave.

Cadamarteri, 24, began medicals at Leeds' Thorp Arch training ground yesterday after rejecting a move to Chester City. Wigan and Stoke were also interested.

Hard-up Leeds, reduced to signing free transfer men, see Cadamarteri as an ideal partner for former Coventry striker Joachim. However, they want to be sure of Cadamarteri's fitness after he missed much of last season with knee trouble.

Cadamarteri said: "This is a massive opportunity for me and it will be a massive season for Leeds.

"Unfortunately they were relegated at the end of last season but there will be a lot of expectation from the fans for Leeds to go straight back up. Hopefully it will give me a platform to build my own career on again."

Stephen McPhail, Leeds' Republic of Ireland midfielder, has received the go-ahead to open talks with Barnsley when he returns from honeymoon.

Barnsley boss Paul Hart was Nottinahm Forest's manager when McPhail had a spell at the City Ground last season.

Updated: 11:02 Wednesday, June 23, 2004