|
Fitz Hall, 22, is the jewel in Oldham's crown and City have gone part way towards coveting the Latics prize asset. It's reported this morning that a bid, thought to be £500,000 has been agreed between the directors of each club but Cardiff will have a battle to tempt the young defender to Wales.
City were also looking at Hall's defensive partner Chris Armstrong but he signed for Sheff Utd yesterday.
The move for Hall by Cardiff has not made Ian Dowie happy. He is trying to keep some sort of team together for Oldham to compete in Division 2 next season but the directors at Boundary Park know the £100,000 received for Armstrong yesterday and the money that could be received from Cardiff would mean survival of Oldham Athletic.
Dowie, who rates the defender at between £1.5m and £2m told the Western Mail
"The two clubs have reached an agreement. This has nothing to do with me. The people who run Oldham have accepted Cardiff's offer, not me. That's the way it is at this club right now."
"I hope Fitz stays with us. He is still very much part of my thinking for next season. But I'm not in a position to influence that. If Fitz goes to Cardiff it will be an amicable parting. I know Lennie and I've got a lot of time for him."
It's said that Cardiff will face competition from Southampton and Man City. The Bluebirds have to do a selling job on Hall who could team up with Daniel Gabbidon to produce the best defensive partnership in the first division.
Dowie continued
"Cardiff can expect a fight for Fitz. Lennie will have to convince Fitz that Cardiff is the right place for him to go."
"Fitz and Gabbidon - that would be a frightening partnership. I don't think there would be a better centre-back pairing in Division One.
"I would like to change that last remark - I know there wouldn't be a better pairing."
There is little doubt Hall will be a superb signing if we get him.