Appleton to sign?

16 January 2001

According to BBC TV news, Preston NE midfielder Michael Appleton will join West Bromwich Albion tomorrow. The Clubs have agreed a fee in the region of £750,000 and the player has agreed personal terms; the move is now subject to the standard medical.

Appleton, 25, joined Preston in a club record £500,000 move from Manchester United (a record for Preston, obviously) and will be out of contract in the summer. PNE are said to be reluctant to lose his services, and although some reports seem to suggest that he has had limited first team action this season, the truth is that he has been practically an ever present member of the squad having played 26 league games and 2 cup games. Preston fans seem to have mixed opinions on him - he has undoubted talent, but doesn't seem to have made the best of it yet; perhaps he can develop under Megson like some others in our current squad have done?

Albion fans have recently seen Appleton - he played in our 3-1 win over Preston at the Hawthorns last year, and was sent off after 71 minutes for a second bookable offence despite pleas to the referee from the fouled Richard Sneekes for leniency. In mitigation, however, the referee in question was Graham Poll. Reminisce here with the full match report...

Previous Stories:

  09 January 2001:  Wolves game on Sky

  04 January 2001:  A few more Derby tickets

  03 January 2001:  Derby Sellout

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