Koumas to leave... finally?

16 July 2006

Recalcitrant Albion midfielder Jason Koumas will sign for Cardiff City for a fee of ?2 million next week, according to a report in their local press. The two clubs have reached an agreement over the fee, to be paid over three years, and the player has "basically ironed out" personal terms with the Welsh side.

However, the Independent Cardiff City web site CCFCSleepingGiant.com warns that the reporter, Mark Bloom, is "not known for his accuracy" and has previously claimed that an agreement was imminent and been wrong. One thing is certain - relations between Koumas and Albion appear to be way beyond repair after the player failed to report for training and was fined ?30,000. The club had already agreed to allow him to report back late because of dental work, and manager Bryan Robson had been quoted by the official web site as being prepared to try and resolve their differences:

"As long as we can resolve things, Jason could have a big part to play for the club."

Under the circumstances, a fee of ?2 million and a saving of around ?780,000 a year in wages seems hard to resist.

Add this to the ?3 million banked during the transfer window and the ?4 million possibly on the way from the sale of Tomasz Kuzsczak to Man United, and with only minimal outlay on fees so far this summer, Albion will surely become the richest club in the Championship and should be well placed to build an impressive side. Should be...

Previous Stories:

  14 July 2006:  Goalie in... goalie out?

  13 July 2006:  Arsenal keen on Davies

  07 July 2006:  Man U in for Kuszczak?

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