By Bimbo Adesina ⋅ August 26, 2007 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Everton, Premier League

Despite profiting £3m on the £11.25m sale of Yakubu to Everton – the club’s record transfer – Middlesbrough could claim a further £750,000 should the Nigerian play a certain number of games for his new club.

Yakubu’s career at Middlesbrough came to an end after the striker demonstrated a lack of endeavour in the 1-0 defeat at Wigan on the 15th August. Some of the club’s senior players were not comfortable with him remaining at the club because of his detrimental attitude, and his position there soon became untenable.

Yakubu failed to score in his last 14 starts for the Teessiders and looked uninterested well before the end of last season. Before the rot set in he had an impressive run of 17 games in which he scored 12 goals. Overall, he made 88 starts (plus 16 sub appearances) and scored 35 goals.

Meanwhile, Everton have appealed the rejection of a work permit application for Yakubu, who had been tipped to debut against Blackburn on Saturday evening. Aiyegbeni fell out with the Nigerian national team bosses in 2006 meaning he featured in only five of the team’s last 13 matches – a figure which did not meet the necessary criteria. The British Home Office requires involvement in 75 percent of a country’s internationals over the preceding two years.

Everton’s appeal is likely to be heard next week, and given the fact that Yakubu has been playing in England for five years will ensure it is successful. One of the quirks of the work permit system is that Yakubu could carry on playing for Middlesbrough without censure, but permits cannot be transferred between employers.

* Meanwhile, Manuel Fernandes has stunned Everton by opting to join Valencia instead. This is despite being a guest at the home game with Blackburn and spending an hour with chairman and owner Bill Kenwright assuring the Merseysiders that he would be joining them. Everton had agreed a £12m deal for 100% rights to the Portuguese midfielder, but Valencia offered £10m to Benfica for 50% of the player, and Fernandes flew into Spain and agreed terms with the 2004 Uefa Cup winners. And early indications suggest Los Che are in need of reinforcements – they fell to an embarrassing 3-0 home defeat to local rivals Villarreal, with David Villa and Joaquín sent off.

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