Fulham still interests Valencia striker John Carew who remains
optimistic that a deal can still be struck with Fulham, after undergoing
an extensive medical in Barcelona on Saturday to prove his fitness.
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Valencia striker John Carew remains keen on a move to Fulham
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Position |
Attack |
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P.O.B. |
Oslo, Norway |
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D.O.B |
05/09/79 |
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Height |
6'
4 |
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"With Jean Tigana, the Fulham coach, I can perform at a better level
than at Valencia," he said.
Carew travelled to specialist in Barcelona on Saturday where he was told
that he had no problems with his knees, after previously being diagnosed
with tendonitis.
"I want to resolve my future, and I these medical exams show that I
am in perfect physical condition," Carew said
"In Spain I'm not happy in a football sense because what I want
to do is play. I'm not a player who was made to sit on the subs bench."
Carew seemed certain to join the London club earlier this month, but
Valencia revealed that the deal had fallen through after the west Londoners
tried to renegotiate the fee.
Fulham then issued a statement claiming that Carew had failed a medical
but Valencia doctor Jorge Candel insisted that the player was in excellent
shape. The Spanish club claim that it was simply an attempt to force them
to lower their £8 million asking price.
Despite his lack of first-team opportunities at Valencia, club president
Jaime Orti insisted that that does not mean Carew will be allowed to leave
on the cheap.
"We have told Fulham that we don't want to lower our price for the
player," he stated on Saturday. "We are not going to change our
£8 million price, but we fear that Fulham will try to save money by
trying to offer a lower amount."
Benitez certainly has no intention of changing his mind on Carew, despite
turning to the Norwegian against Real Madrid.
"If a club comes in with an offer we will listen to it," he said,
adding that the results of the latest medical should speed up his transfer.
"We just wanted to know, officially, that Carew is perfectly fit,"
Benitez said.
"The tests confirmed what we always thought, that there is nothing
wrong with him. With that in mind, I do not understand why the negotiations
with Fulham broke down. I think somebody changed their minds at the last
minute.
"Nevertheless, Carew cannot play this weekend, because he has influenza.
But I am very pleased that he has been cleared because it gives me another
option up front."
The former Rosenborg striker arrived at Valencia in a £5.75 million
deal in the summer of 2000 and was part of the team which reached the
2001 Champions' League final under Hector Cuper.
But there have been concerns over the striker's fitness after he was diagnosed
with "jumper's knees" in November 2001. And Carew admitted to
a Norwegian paper that the problem, which has also threatened to curtail
Manchester United defender Ronny Johnsen's career, may not be solved.
He said then: "I've had jumper's knee in my left knee for a couple
of years and I have just been diagnosed with it in my right knee as well.
It is extremely painful. If I stretch out my legs on a flight, I am totally
useless the next day and I need to rest a lot."
Fulham are keen to add another striker to their squad as French duo Steve
Marlet and Louis Saha have struggled to adapt to the Premiership.