Australia forward Harry Kewell joined Liverpool from Leeds United on Wednesday but the move was soured by a furious row between his former club and the player's agent over the five million pounds ($8.16 million) fee.

Leeds chose 3 million pounds,which's better than nothing

Angry Leeds said they had been forced to agree to pay two million pounds to Kewell's representatives or face the prospect of losing the coveted international for nothing when his contract expired next year under the Bosman ruling.

That meant they in effect received only three million pounds for the 24-year-old, one of the most sought after players in the world game.

Leeds chairman John McKenzie described it as a "paltry sum" and told his club's official website he was "angry and frustrated at the outrageous situation".

Kewell has already had a medical and agreed a five-year deal with Liverpool. He will be paraded by the Anfield club at a news conference scheduled for midday on Thursday.

The size of the transfer fee is another hammer blow to Leeds, whose debts stood at 78.9 million pounds when they reported their half-year financial results on March 31.

Kewell is the latest in a string of highly-rated players to leave the Yorkshire club, who narrowly avoided relegation from the premier league last season.

PALTRY SUM

The exodus started with the sale a year ago of defender Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United. Three other England players -- striker Robbie Fowler, midfielder Lee Bowyer and defender Jonathan Woodgate -- have all subsequently left.

Manager Terry Venables was sacked in March by then-chairman Peter Ridsdale, who resigned soon after.

In a statement to the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Leeds said they "had to agree to pay a fee to representatives of Kewell in the sum of two million pounds.

"The Board, having taken appropriate professional advice, felt that it had no option but to accept these terms given the context of Kewell's current contract."

Kewell had a year left on his contract and would have been a free agent at the end of next season.

McKenzie then issued a further statement in which he said: "The reality is that on Friday 4 July I agreed a deal of seven million pounds with Liverpool Football Club, which Kewell and his agent refused to countenance.

"Instead, they made a condition of not 'doing a Bosman' that we pay two million pounds to Kewell's representatives, and Liverpool then reduced the fee to five million pounds.

"What happened to the remaining two million, I believe I know, but only Liverpool or Harry Kewell could tell you.

"The (Leeds United) PLC was therefore faced with the alternative of taking the net three million (plus 2.5 million pounds in wages) to enable (manager) Peter Reid to strengthen the squad or getting next to nothing.

"So, sadly, the PLC felt it had no alternative but to accept the paltry sum."

Kewell's agent Bernie Mandic was later asked where the two million pounds -- the difference between the seven million pounds fee Leeds originally agreed with Liverpool and the five million pounds Liverpool eventually paid -- had ended up.

Mandic told Sky Sports television"

LESSER FIGURE

Kewell, who can play in midfield or up front, supported Liverpool as a boy in Australia and told the country's Channel Nine television station that he was delighted to join the club.

"There is just something special about Liverpool and that is why I accepted their (offer)," he said in a previously-recorded interview screened on Wednesday.

"I joined them because it represents a real opportunity to win the premiership title."

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier said" "It's a huge boost for us ahead of the new campaign and an indication of Harry's belief in what we want to achieve here."

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