13th January 2005: The news, or
at least rumour, continues to surround the Baggies with the first
story of the day coming from Kevin Blackwell, manager of Leeds United.
He has apparently said that he has no interest in Albion midfielder,
Artim Sakiri - maybe he will go abroad after all.
Speculation surrounding the future of Kanu has been around for a few
months after, according to some sources, he has failed to make an
impact at the Hawthorns. Personally, I have been impressed by the
effort that the Nigerian has shown in his time at the club, although
his goalscoring tally is obviously not what we would have hoped. The
arrival of Kevin Campbell earlier this week sparked some to suggest
that Pop was looking to offload the former Gooner, but he was quick
to deny such rumours today claiming he needed to hang on to all of
his five strikers. In one foul swoop, he has put paid to suggestions
not only that Kanu might leave, but that Rob Hulse might be on his
way too.
Mind you, there was at least one source today suggesting that Kanu
would stay only because Albion couldn't find anyone to take on his
£27,000 a week contract - a different angle, but I'm not sure how
much merit there is in that one.
Another play linked with a move away from the Hawthorns is Cosmin
Contra. Ignored by Megson, the Romanian international made a significant
impact in the side once Robson came in, but reports today suggested
that Dutch club Feyenoord were preparing a bid of £1.5 million to
buy him from Atletico Madrid. The Spanish club would have to come
to an agreement with the Baggies over the remainder of the loan deal,
which would hopefully scupper any move, although this same report
on the Evening Mail website indicated that Contra was out of favour
at Albion claiming he had "only made four appearances since his impressive
debut". It's amazing what statistics can do isn't it? Contra has indeed
only made five appearances since his league debut against 'Boro, but
the Mail failed to point out that injury kept Contra out for three
games, he was then sent off on his return and therefore missed another
game, and has since had a recurrence of his groin injury. I think
that since Robson arrived, he has only failed to make the squad once
when he was available. I can't see Robson letting him go unless Contra
himself is desperate to leave, or Madrid make an offer we can't refuse.
On the inward side of the transfer market, our Argentinian friend
remains a worrying absentee and is highly unlikely to figure on Sunday,
but on the positive side, there are reports in Italian newspapers
that Robson is on the verge of signing defenders Igor Tudor and Nicola
Legrottaglie from Juventus. Tudor has been linked with the Baggies
for some weeks, but Legrottaglie is a new name to emerge in the last
day or so. Obviously, you take these reports with a pinch of salt,
but the signs are promising, at least.
A brief word about Sunday's game - I mentioned in my preview yesterday
that there was a faint hope that Boa Morte, Fulham's form player of
the moment, might not figure amid transfer speculation. Unfortunately
for the Baggies, he has today signed a new contract with the Cottagers
ending any talk of a move. Ah well, I suppose you have to play the
best in this league...
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