MICHAEL Ricketts could end up costing Leeds United nearly £2million this season - despite playing for Burnley!

The former England striker originally joined Leeds in July 2004 in what former club Middlesbrough announced as a free transfer.

Ricketts has since made just 13 starts for the Yorkshiremen, who have farmed him out on loan, first to Stoke and this year to Cardiff and Burnley.

However, the hidden cost of Leeds' transfer dealings were this week revealed by United chairman Ken Bates, who confirmed that if his club are promoted back to the Premiership they have to pay Boro a cool £1.8m for Ricketts.

Bates described the financial revelation as "a nasty surprise".