Robbie Fowler has agreed personal terms at Elland Road and may be officially unveiled as Leeds United's new £11 million sterling striker today.
After 15 years at Anfield the 26-year-old striker will complete the second stage of a "stringent" medical this afternoon having agreed a five-year deal, a stipulation of which is that he moves house to West Yorkshire.
"Robbie's a player that David (O'Leary) has followed for some time because he is sure he will fit into the way we play," said the Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale. "He has massive European experience which is something we need if we are going to deliver what we are trying to do here."
Understandably unrest is brewing among Liverpool fans at the sight of their favourite son joining their nearest title challengers, with 79 per cent those polled in a local newspaper disagreeing with the sale. Yet the caretaker manager Phil Thompson was toeing a politically correct line yesterday in a desperate attempt to deflect the flak.
"It wasn't our decision to let Robbie go," he insisted. "It's a sad day to see a local lad moving on, but he felt it difficult to fit in with the rotation system. He feels the time is right to move on and it was his decision. I hope the fans, in the cold light of day, will look at it and have belief in the club."
Rick Parry, the chief executive, added: "There was always a risk the player might sit tight for the remainder of his contract and still go to one of our rivals for free."
All the same, the logic behind the sale may only be clarified by the purchase of a suitable replacement. That may prove difficult particularly as Liverpool officials were privately surprised by the abruptness of Fowler's departure.
The Juventus striker David Trezeguet, banned for two matches yesterday for butting Lazio's Simone Inzaghi, remains the ideal replacement though the Turin club will be reluctant to do business. Instead Liverpool may turn their attentions to Djibril Cisse, Auxerre's livewire 20-year-old.
Lazio's Pep Guardiola, already suspended after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone in October, also failed a drug test after the game with Brescia on November 4th.
