George Burley said this afternoon that Richard Wright had passed his Arsenal medical and that the deal should be complete in the next 24 hours.

Burley said: "It looks like it's going through. Richard has completed his medical. It will probably go through today."

The Town manager was at pains to stress how disappointing it was to lose Wright and had he had the choice he certainly wouldn't have sold him: "I wanted him to sign a ten-year deal. I wouldn't have sold him for £20 million given the choice."

Town however, weren't given the choice with Wright's contract clause allowing him to speak to two or three of the 'top' clubs if an offer at a certain level came in, Burley again: "That was the reality of the situation. We wish him the best and hope has an excellent career at Arsenal. You're always disappointed to lose top class players. I tried as hard as I could to keep him, I hoped he'd have turned Arsenal down to play with us this year in Europe."

Burley added that Wright was ambitious and that he is "a credit to Malcolm Webster and all the staff."

Of the fee the Town boss said: "The fee is between the two clubs."

Whether the 5.30 press conference at Arsenal is to parade Wright we will soon know. If not it seems that one to announce his departure from Town won't be far away.

Photo: Action Images

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