Leicester stalwart Steve Howard is set to leave the club this summer after being told by manager Sven-Göran Eriksson that he has no place in his plans for the coming campaign. Howard joined the Foxes in 2008 and has weighed in with a healthy number of goals, but Eriksson wishes to base his attack around former England man Darius Vassell in 2011-12, as well as hoping to sign Everton striker Yakubu on a permanent basis after his loan spell last season.
Howard has already been linked to Burnley who are in the market for a replacement for the departed Steven Thompson, and Southampton, whose manager Nigel Adkins has expressed doubts about Rickie Lambert's suitability for Championship football. Leicester are likely to ask a fee of around £400k for the targetman, a figure well within the reach of both clubs.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Upson Down?
Former West Ham skipper Matt Upson has been dealt a shocking blow as his agent has informed him that there is currently no Premier League interest in him following his departure from the East London club. Just 12 months ago, Upson was playing in the World Cup for England, but his stock has dipped so dramatically that even low-ranking clubs such as Wigan and Blackburn have declined to make any approach for the 32 year-old.
Upson could now be forced to take a drastic cut in salary and join his former club Birmingham City, who are expecting to lose at least one of their coveted centre-half partnership of Roger Johnson and Scott Dann. Intriguingly, another former England free agent, Lee Bowyer, could be set to make the return journey for a third spell at Upton Park, as contract talks with another of his old clubs, Leeds United, have stalled.
Upson could now be forced to take a drastic cut in salary and join his former club Birmingham City, who are expecting to lose at least one of their coveted centre-half partnership of Roger Johnson and Scott Dann. Intriguingly, another former England free agent, Lee Bowyer, could be set to make the return journey for a third spell at Upton Park, as contract talks with another of his old clubs, Leeds United, have stalled.
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Micky On The Move Again?
Port Vale fans have reacted furiously to rumours that manager Micky Adams is set to walk out for the second time in six months, with increasing speculation that he is set to take the reins at Cardiff City.
Adams left Vale Park in December after being approached by his boyhood heroes, Sheffield United, but was unable to save them from relegation to the third tier and was subsequently sacked. Vale were more than happy to re-appoint him on a three-year deal, but the ambitious manager, who took Leicester to the top flight in 2003, is keen to have another crack at breaking into the Premier League.
A pal of Adams told us: "Micky believes that he was never fully backed in his time at Leicester and he sees Cardiff as the ideal place to re-establish his reputation. Things went badly at Bramall Lane but it wasn't his fault. No disrespect to Vale but what can he do there?"
Other names linked with the Cardiff job are Glenn Roeder and Alan Curbishley, though the latter is known to be unsure about moving to South Wales.
Adams left Vale Park in December after being approached by his boyhood heroes, Sheffield United, but was unable to save them from relegation to the third tier and was subsequently sacked. Vale were more than happy to re-appoint him on a three-year deal, but the ambitious manager, who took Leicester to the top flight in 2003, is keen to have another crack at breaking into the Premier League.
A pal of Adams told us: "Micky believes that he was never fully backed in his time at Leicester and he sees Cardiff as the ideal place to re-establish his reputation. Things went badly at Bramall Lane but it wasn't his fault. No disrespect to Vale but what can he do there?"
Other names linked with the Cardiff job are Glenn Roeder and Alan Curbishley, though the latter is known to be unsure about moving to South Wales.
Sent To Coventry
Irish midfield maestro Michael Doyle is set for an emotional return to the Ricoh Arena - a mere six months after leaving.
Following Sheffield United's relegation to League One, his £12,000 per week wages have proved to be too much for the Blades and they are willing to release him from his contract to re-unite with the Warwickshire men. New Coventry boss Andy Thorn is known to have been upset with former manager Aidy Boothroyd's decision to let Doyle go and is keen to have him back in the City engine room.
Doyle, who turns 30 in August, was a fans' favourite during his previous spell at Coventry, and his 265 appearances were characterised by his non-stop commitment and energy. Thorn is in need of bolstering his midfield with the likely departure of Icelandic star Aron Gunnarsson, who is attracting interest from Blackburn and Sunderland.
Following Sheffield United's relegation to League One, his £12,000 per week wages have proved to be too much for the Blades and they are willing to release him from his contract to re-unite with the Warwickshire men. New Coventry boss Andy Thorn is known to have been upset with former manager Aidy Boothroyd's decision to let Doyle go and is keen to have him back in the City engine room.
Doyle, who turns 30 in August, was a fans' favourite during his previous spell at Coventry, and his 265 appearances were characterised by his non-stop commitment and energy. Thorn is in need of bolstering his midfield with the likely departure of Icelandic star Aron Gunnarsson, who is attracting interest from Blackburn and Sunderland.
A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Norwich striker Chris Martin has reacted furiously to manager Paul Lambert's signing of James Vaughan and his pursuits of Millwall forward Steve Morison and Peterborough star Craig Mackail-Smith, by slapping in a transfer request.
A source close to Chris said: "He can't believe that after playing a huge part in two promotions that he's just being cast aside. He doesn't want to cause trouble, but he can see that he has no future here. His days of playing in yellow are clearly over."
Martin would be a coveted purchase for the majority of Championship clubs and new Barnsley boss Keith Hill is known to be an admirer. Should the Tykes' finances allow a fee of £750k, it could well be that the frontman is on the move to Oakwell.
A source close to Chris said: "He can't believe that after playing a huge part in two promotions that he's just being cast aside. He doesn't want to cause trouble, but he can see that he has no future here. His days of playing in yellow are clearly over."
Martin would be a coveted purchase for the majority of Championship clubs and new Barnsley boss Keith Hill is known to be an admirer. Should the Tykes' finances allow a fee of £750k, it could well be that the frontman is on the move to Oakwell.
McCarthy: "Jamie has Loftus in the lurch"
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has been dealt a stunning blow as he looks to revamp his squad; Jamie O'Hara, previously understood to be on the verge of completing a permanent move to the West Midlands after a successful loan spell, is set to remain in London and join Premier League new boys QPR.
A fee of £5m had been agreed with Spurs and Wolves were happy to proceed with the deal, but an administrative error meant that the week-long deadline to complete the deal lapsed, and the Hoops have wasted no time in swooping for the midfielder. Flavio Briatore has told manager Neil Warnock that he sees the former Arsenal trainee as his marquee signing for the summer and has promised a weekly wage in excess of £50,000, which has proven too much for O'Hara to turn down, despite previous statements that he had no intention of returning to the south-east.
The disappointed McCarthy will now turn his attentions to free agent Nigel Reo-Coker, who has recently left Aston Villa following the expiry of his contract.
A fee of £5m had been agreed with Spurs and Wolves were happy to proceed with the deal, but an administrative error meant that the week-long deadline to complete the deal lapsed, and the Hoops have wasted no time in swooping for the midfielder. Flavio Briatore has told manager Neil Warnock that he sees the former Arsenal trainee as his marquee signing for the summer and has promised a weekly wage in excess of £50,000, which has proven too much for O'Hara to turn down, despite previous statements that he had no intention of returning to the south-east.
The disappointed McCarthy will now turn his attentions to free agent Nigel Reo-Coker, who has recently left Aston Villa following the expiry of his contract.
Gardner's Question Time
Lifelong Birmingham City fan Craig Gardner has been left with a dilemma - to stay with his boyhood heroes in the Championship or to sign for local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers. Gardner plumped for the Blues back in January 2010 when leaving Aston Villa, but Mick McCarthy remains a keen admirer of the goalscoring midfielder and has wasted no time in submitting a £3.25m bid. Financial problems at St Andrews mean that the bid has been immediately accepted despite the wishes of Alex McLeish to keep his key players at the club, and the choice is now entirely down to the player.
Gardner's arrival at Molineux would see an exit for David Edwards, who has been at the club since 2008. A fee of £2m would be commanded for the Welsh international and there has already been interest from Premier League new boys Swansea City, who see him as the potential heartbeat of their new look midfield, as Darren Pratley seems set to clinch a Bosman move to Bolton in the coming days.
Gardner's arrival at Molineux would see an exit for David Edwards, who has been at the club since 2008. A fee of £2m would be commanded for the Welsh international and there has already been interest from Premier League new boys Swansea City, who see him as the potential heartbeat of their new look midfield, as Darren Pratley seems set to clinch a Bosman move to Bolton in the coming days.
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