From the Staffordshire Sentinel

VALIANTS WAIT FOR LEON TO SEAL DEAL


09:40 - 16 January 2007
Port Vale striker Leon Constantine remains locked in talks over a move to Championship side Barnsley yesterday.


The 28-year-old spent the day thrashing out personal terms at the South Yorkshire club's Oakwell ground.

Vale have agreed a fee of around £125,000 for 18-goal striker Constantine, plus a player trade involving Marc Richards.

Richards, aged 24, was given a tour of Vale Park yesterday and discussed terms, as did the Valiants' second transfer target, Crewe Alexandra striker Luke Rodgers.

The 25-year-old Rodgers was still mulling over a £30,000 move to Vale Park last night.

Vale chairman Bill Bratt said the transfers remained in limbo, but he remains hopeful of sealing the deals.

He said: "Leon hasn't managed to agree terms with Barnsley yet, but the deal hasn't collapsed.

"All we can say is that we genuinely do not know what is going to happen. The players all have to agree terms with the clubs, and these things take time.

"There is always going to be a bit of wrangling in these situations, and when there are three players involved it complicates matters. The maximum it usually takes is two or three days, so we will have to be patient.

"I still think the deal with Leon will go through, and then everyone can get back to running the club.

"The situation with Marc is obviously tied up with Leon's transfer. Luke has been offered terms and hopefully he will put pen to paper. But there are other clubs interested, so anything can happen."

However, Crewe manager Dario Gradi offered hope that a deal with Rodgers could yet be done.

He said: "Luke has said he wants to remain playing in this league, so I would imagine Port Vale have a good chance of him accepting their terms.

"I don't think money will be a deciding factor because it is not something we discussed at great length when he signed for us."

 

Sounds like he will come - agents wrangling thats all nt