Wigan Athletic striker Jason Scotland is tipped to be the player boss Roy Keane said he was “unbelievably close” to signing yesterday. The 31-year-old former Swansea frontman appears likely to leave the DW Stadium during the close season as part of a clear-out by boss Roberto Martinez.
Rumours regarding the Trinidad and Tobago international appeared on the TWTD Message Board last night and have persisted this morning with claims of an initial loan deal to give the clubs time to settle the terms of a two-year permanent switch. The story has subsequently been picked up by national newspapers with a fee of £750,000 claimed, while there are reports elsewhere that the player is weighing up the switch.
Scotland started his career his career in his home country with San Juan Jabloteh and Defence Force, who Carlos Edwards was also with earlier in his career.
In 2003 he joined Dundee United after a trial, moving on to St Johnstone two years later and then Swansea City for a fee of £25,000 in 2007.
Scotland enjoyed a hugely successful spell with the Swans, netting 29 goals in all competitions during their 2007/08 League One promotion campaign and 24 in the Welsh side’s first year back in the Championship.
Last summer the 5ft 8in tall striker moved on to Wigan for £2 million but the switch hasn’t been a success, the Trinidadian netting only one league goal last season.
Nicknamed Rocket, Scotland has won 41 full international caps and has scored eight goals, playing alongside Town midfielder Carlos Edwards and former Blues loanee Stern John.
Yesterday, boss Roy Keane said he was very near to adding a striker to his squad and hinted that that player might not be Cardiff’s Michael Chopra, the man understood to be his number one target.
The Blues boss also said that he had a number of forward players in his thoughts: "There are two or three players I’ve got in mind in terms of attacking positions that we need. The deals we’re looking at would be permanent because we need some permanent players who we know will be at the club for two or three years to help bring it forward.”