WIGAN AIMING FOR TRIPLE DEAL
Chris Hutchings, the Wigan Athletic manager, is hopeful of clinching the signings of Marlon Harewood, Jason Koumas and Michael Brown this week for a combined fee of about £10.2 million. Wigan have offered £3.2 million for Harewood, the West Ham United striker, who is the most likely arrival at the JJB Stadium.
Koumas is the subject of a bid worth up to £4.5 million, but West Bromwich Albion, the Wales midfield player’s club, are proving tough negotiators. Fulham want £1 million more than the £2.5 million Wigan have offered for Brown, but are reluctant to sell the midfield player to a club that they believe they will be battling against to avoid relegation next season.
DUTCH COURAGE
Andy van der Meyde, the former Holland winger, has vowed to fight to salvage his Everton career. Van der Meyde’s spell at Goodison Park has been marred by controversy and he appeared to criticise David Moyes, the manager, in a recent interview. “I have not had the best of times at Everton,” he said. “I just want to a have good preseason and be in the starting XI for the first match.”
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HAWKEYE TRIAL
The Premier League is to pilot the HawkEye technology introduced at this year’s Wimbledon tennis championships. The system will be tested at Reading’s academy with hopes of a “blind trial” next season, when it could be tried in matches but not used by the officials. Managers such as Sam Allardyce, of Newcastle United, have called for technology that can remove doubts over goalline decisions.