Sport 28-11-2001 Fowler Set To Swap Anfield For Elland Rd who: Robbie Fowler what: In talks with Leeds United over £11million move where: Elland Road, LEEDS when: Yesterday snippet: 26-year-old England forward Robbie Fowler "is due at Elland Road today to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical examination and is expected to complete what would be an emotional move away from his native Merseyside in time to make his Leeds debut away to Fulham on Sunday," reports The Times today on a move that would end months, if not years, of speculation over the striker`s long term future. Fowler`s current contract expires next season, and it was always likely that he would be sold "rather than being allowed to leave in 18 months` time on a Bosman transfer for free, a scenario which Liverpool were forced to endure when Steve McManaman quit to join Real Madrid two seasons ago." Leeds are ready to pay over £10m for Fowler, who, explains the Independent`s Alan Nixon, "joined the Anfield club as a boy and for whom he has scored a record-breaking 171 goals in 330 matches." Fowler`s expected arrival would represent a "significant transfer coup and will push manager David O`Leary`s outlay on players to 97m in just over three years," continues the Independent, which like other newspapers, notes that the player`s departure is unlikely to go down well with Liverpool fans. "It is a highly controversial transfer and not merely because Leeds are Liverpool`s closest pursuers at the top of the FA Barclaycard Premiership," says Oliver Kay in the Times."Fowler`s popularity among supporters at Anfield eclipses even that of Michael Owen, but he has not been held in such high esteem by the club for some time." But loss of form, disciplinary problems and a public spat with stand-in manager Phil Thompson have tarnished the popularity of the man supporters called `God`, and Gerard Houllier, who reportedly sanctioned the move from his hospital bed, could not be blamed if he were to feel a slight sense of relief at Fowler`s departure. [... more]

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