Fowler the final piece in Keegan’s Euro jigsaw

MANCHESTER CITY chairman David Bernstein believes the Maine Road outfit can make the push for a top-six spot now they have secured the services of Robbie Fowler.

City have agreed a £6million fee with Leeds United for the striker.

Bernstein has negotiated a £3million fee up front with the remainder being based on appearances.

The 27-year-old striker will sign a three-and-a-half year contract this morning after performing a U-turn and agreeing to join Kevin Keegan’s side.

It will send Keegan’s spending through the £40million barrier in just 18 months at the helm.

The former England boss has never held back from his desire to bring European football back to the club and, after backing their manager to the hilt, the City board now expect results.

“There is pressure to get into the top six,” said Bernstein. “Kevin has said before that is his target and now we have a squad of players that can possibly achieve that.

“It won’t be easy but I’m sure the team will battle hard and while there might be some ups and downs to come, hopefully there will be much more of the former.”

Fowler spurned City just a fortnight ago, stating he was happy at Leeds and still had a desire to win trophies at Elland Road just as Keegan thought the deal was in the bag.

At the time, Keegan pinned the collapse of the transfer on Bernstein, who had tried to renegotiate the terms of the contract because of fears over Fowler’s long-term fitness.

However, amid talk of a boardroom rift, Bernstein’s stance has now been vindicated, particularly as the overall fee has come down by £1million.

“I won’t pretend there haven’t been some interesting moments over the last couple of months but there are no splits and now we are looking to move ahead,” said Bernstein.

With the transfer window due to close tomorrow, Keegan is expected to be told he must sell before he can buy in the summer, which means departures are certain if he is to keep loan signings Marc-Vivien Foe and Djamel Belmadi, who will cost a combined £6million from Lyon and Marseille.

“The cheque-book is closed,” Bernstein said. “This transfer reflects the current state of the market because money is very scarce at the moment.

“However, we have signed one of the best strikers in the country and we are looking forward to him doing for us what he has done in the past.”