Ken Bates has told Arsenal and Sunderland to forget about signing Fabian Delph! He also reveals he told Newcastle where to go when they tried to sign the Leeds youngster.

The Shields Gazette report that Bates in his typical robust style had a message for those predators who think they can snap-up Fabian Delph in January, with Sunderland and Arsenal apparently ready to offer £6m for his services.

Bates said: "Fabian Delph will be moving to the Premier League - but we hope he'll be moving with us via the Championship.

"He signed a four-year contract until 2012 and he doesn't want to go anywhere.

"It's inevitable if the team does well predatory upper league clubs will try their luck without success."

Bates also revealed that he bluntly told Newcastle where they could go after they made an offer which left him "amazed".

Print these words and hold "anti-Santa" to them folks! I think many of us are resigned to the fact that should offers of £6m be on the table after Christmas, then Bates would seriously listen. The ongoing saga about the buy-back of Thorp Arch is a major consideration. Bates was talking a few weeks ago about fans investing in some form of trust to buy the Leeds Academy back, it was sold off under a lease-back agreement during the Krasner era. However I cannot see the cash-strapped fans, who already are paying ridiculous prices like £20 for the Northampton FA Cup tie tomorrow night stumping up to buy back the training ground.

So when Delph goes - as ever, it will be our fault!!!

Meanwhile reports elsewhere are linking Leeds with a loan-swop for Preston winger Simon Whaley.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters