Yakubu to leave Goodison for Leicester City loan move
YAKUBU was today on the brink of completing a season long loan move to Leicester – as David Moyes attempts to bolster his arm in the transfer market by trimming the Goodison wage bill.
The Nigerian striker was believed to have undergone a medical at the Walkers stadium this morning, with the Foxes keen to make the deal permanent this summer.
Foxes boss Sven Goran Eriksson has been tracking the 28-year-old for several weeks, and the Midlands club’s wealthy Thai owners have agreed to cover his wages, enabling the deal to go ahead.Moyes, who must generate his own funds to cover the wages of any potential loan signings, is still trawling the market for a striker, right sided midfielder and cover a centre half.
He has decided to allow Yakubu to move on after the former Portsmouth player slipped behind Louis Saha and Jermaine Beckford in the line-up for a starting berth in his attack.
The Yak has found the net just once for in 15 appearances this season.
Meanwhile, the Everton boss is hoping his firm rebuttal of Tottenham’s interest in skipper Phil Neville will prevent the Londoners continuing their pursuit.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp wants to sign Everton’s club captain, and his chairman Daniel Levy has spoken to Bill Kenwright about the possibility but was told it was a non-starter.
Moyes said: “I spoke with Harry Redknapp briefly before the transfer window opened. Daniel Levy and Bill had an even briefer conversation at our recent game against Spurs and mutually agreed that this would go no further. At no time was any offer made – nor would one have been welcomed. Phil Neville is our captain and is an important part of the Everton set-up.”
Neville, who is under contract at Goodison for a further 18 months, is yet to respond to reports he wants to take up the offer of Champions League football in the capital, but either way Moyes is determined to hang onto the 33-year-old.
The Everton boss is already facing the likelihood of losing Steven Pienaar to Tottenham, with the White Hart Lane outfit reported to have agreed a deal in principle with the midfielder.
It remains unclear, though, whether Spurs will offer around £2m to try and tempt Everton to push the transfer through this month, or wait until the summer when the South African schemer would be available as a Bosman free agent.
THE ECHO Think there will be alot of blues pleased with that??
