Portsmouth Ready to Offload Aiyegbeni
Slam N3bn price tag on Nigerian hitman
By Tunde Sulaiman, 11.17.2004Portsmouth striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has put The Premiership's top clubs on red alert by admitting he is looking to leave Fratton Park, even though he suffered ligament damage over the weekend.
And SunSport can reveal that the Nigerian striker, who has hit eight goals this season, will have a œ10million transfer fee put on his head in the January transfer window.
Portsmouth and Israeli club Maccabi Haifa each own 50 per cent of Yakubu and are currently finalising the exact way in which the œ10m fee will be paid out.
The Nigerian hit-man has been a huge success since arriving at Pompey at the beginning of last season, and averages around a goal every two games for the South Coast club.
After 19 goals last term, he already has a further eight to his name this time around and his form is unlikely to have gone unnoticed at England's top clubs.
Middlesbrough was reportedly keen to sign him last summer, but a move failed to materialise and he stayed with Harry Redknapp's men.
However, if he maintains his superb record a move from Fratton Park appears more a question of when rather than if, and Yakubu admits he is desperate to secure a transfer to a 'big club' as soon as he can to realise his ambitions.
"If the big clubs want me I'll talk to them," he told The Sun.
"I love Portsmouth. They are good people and great fans but I couldn't turn down the opportunity to play at a bigger club.
"You never know when it could happen, who could say.
"But I know if the right offer comes along I would have to go. I think the top clubs is where I belong.
"I'm confident I can do the job for the best teams. It would not worry me.
"My goal record is one in every two games and I want to be remembered as one of the great goalscorers.
"I'm confident, I know what I can do, but I also know you have to work for it, commit yourself and focus. That is something I have no problem doing."
The striker has had to withdraw from Nigeria's clash with South Africa after picking up a knee injury during Portsmouth's 2-1 loss to Southampton over the weekend at Saint Mary's, which will keep him out of action to Christmas. A scan has revealed medial ligament damage.
"The extent of the injury seems similar to the one picked up by Arjan De Zeeuw," said club physio Gary Sadler.
"Maybe we'll be a little bit luckier with Yak and it might only be four weeks till he's back."
The injury is a blow to Pompey, who already have striker Diomansy Kamara on the side-lines.
Meanwhile, Aiyegbeni is on course to land himself a œ10, 000 (about N2.5m) jackpot courtesy of his manager Rednapp, who placed this wager on him hitting 15 goals this season. An exasperated Rednapp was forced to offer the bet after his main striker failed to find the net consistently at the start of the season. However, since the œ10, 000 carrot was dangled 'Yak' as he is fondly called by Pompey faithful, has re-discovered his scoring touch.
And with the Nigerian already on eight goals with the season yet to reach the half way stage he is an odd on favourite to make the target. Last year he ended the season as the club's top scorer with 19 goals.
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