Powell deal OFF

By Mark Sugar
June 10 2004

Darren Powell will not be signing for Reading from Crystal Palace.The central defender has been a transfer target for 4 months now but due to Palace reaching the Premiership,any deal looks off.Manager Steve Coppell will now be looking to seal the signing of Emmerson Boyce.

Darren Powell will not be signing for Reading from Crystal Palace this summer.

The defender had been a target now for a couple of months but due to a persistent hamstring injury he didn't sign on transfer deadline day with the Royals unwilling to take the risk incase he didn't make it.

And with Crystal Palace reaching the Premiership in one of the greatest football tales,he looks highly unlikely to becoming a Royals player.Powell has began dicussing a new contract with Palace Manager Iain Dowie.

Royals boss Steve Coppell told the Reading Chronicle;

"When Palace were promoted it changed things with Darren.

"No matter who they are, every player wants to play in the Premiership. It dominates the newspapers and everyone talks about it so he wants to have a go.

"Crystal Palace got there on merit and I know he's been talking to them again, so basically he's off the agenda until we hear anything different."

And Coppell has admitted he could go into the loan market for a defender,similar to the Matthew Upson deal.

""It appears as though a lot of the top clubs are loaning play-ers for a season so maybe there's someone out there who falls into that category. That could be ideal for us."

This should also rule Brighton and Hove Albion Captaib Danny Cullip out,though Luton Town defender Emmerson Boyce remains a transfer target.This is because Boyce will be a free agent in the summer should he not agree a new deal at Kenilworth Road.

Coppell has also confirmed a deal for a replacement for John Salako has gone quiet.He told the Reading Evening Post;

"We were hot on the trail of sealing our top target.It looks like that particular deal has now died but there is a chance it can be resurrected."

Who will Steve Coppell sign in the summer?Tell us your thoughts on the 1871Royals Message Board!