Football



advertisement

Etuhu set to quit Blues


19/ 1/2002

PRESTON North End are believed to be poised to end Dickson Etuhu's New Year nightmare.

The Deepdale club are understood to be willing to buy the Manchester City teenager who has spent much of the past few weeks at loggerheads with the First Division leaders over a new contract.

After twice saying no to a fresh deal because he and his advisors felt the terms did not reflect his ability or promise, 19-year-old Etuhu walked away and was told he had no future in Kevin Keegan's first team - although he did feature in a reserve outing on Monday.

Lawyers were left to pore over the fine print of his old contract while the player kicked his heels.

All the while, City chairman David Bernstein refused to blink in his game of poker over the legalities of the original deal and his patience has seemingly paid off.

North End had been impressed with what they had seen of home-grown Etuhu earlier in the season when the two sides clashed at Deepdale and with their own play-off chasing squad now depleted by injury they have decided to take the plunge.

It is not known how much City want for Etuhu or how much David Moyes has offered but the Blues would want a fee in excess of £250,000.

The midfielder, who was working on a one-year deal, shot to prominence last September when he made an impressive debut in a 3-0 win over Birmingham, in total he played 11 league games and one Worthington Cup tie.

If he joins Preston Etuhu, who was popular with the fans, will be in for an early return to City who host North End in a televised game on February 10.


Newsletter Sign Up
 
Have your say Sign up to the weekly news
update

Latest stories
 

 
Title race
 

Who will win the Premier League?

51%
9%
37%
3%