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Maik Taylor signs for Birmingham

last updated Saturday 02nd August 2003, 10:06 AM
Fulham keeper Maik Taylor
Fulham keeper Maik Taylor
Maik Taylor Stories
Fulham and Northern Ireland keeper Maik Taylor has decided to accept a one season loan deal at Birmingham City. The move is with a view to a permanent £1.5million transfer from Fulham next summer.

Fan favourite Taylor has been at Fulham since the end of 1997 and has played 233 times for the first team since his £700k signing from Southampton.

His position at Fulham has been difficult since the arrival of Edwin van der Sar from Juventus at the start of the 2001/02 season. Following the departure of Manager Jean Tigana and injury for van der Sar it seemed that Taylor had a better chance of returning to first team football. Taylor, aged 31, performed well in place of injured Edwin van der Saar, including eye-catching games against the Blues. However van der Sar has now recovered from injury and is unlikely to obtain as good a contract elsewhere so will be seeing out his contract at Fulham.

Bruce said today: “Yes, we’ve taken Maik on a year’s loan with a view to a permanent transfer. “We think he’s a very good signing for us. He’s an international, around 6ft 4in and has done it at the highest level. “I’m pleased we’ve managed to bring someone in of his quality as, although it was not a case of us panicking, it was getting near to the start of the season.”

Taylor has been unhappy with reserve football for some time and stated last season that if he was not in the first team he would look to leave the club. As The Cottagers have stated publicly that they need to reduce their cost base and would find it hard to leave van der Sar on the bench a move for Taylor seems logical for both parties. Fulham have of course recently signed Dave Beasant.
Source Daily Mail
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