Premiership: Carew deal off

Valencia striker John Carew’s transfer to Fulham has fallen through.

The London club had hoped to sign the giant Norwegian international in a deal believed to be worth around £7.5m.

Carew, 22, has fallen out of favour with new Valencia coach Rafael Benitez and held talks with Fulham over the weekend.

But Fulham confirmed that the transfer broke down as a result of Carew’s medical, undertaken on Saturday.

A brief statement issued by the Barclaycard Premiership club revealed Cottagers’ doctors did not consider the striker was fit enough to be signed by the west Londoners.

The statement read: ‘‘The transfer of John Carew will not be proceeded with, following the results of a medical.’’

Carew had already jetted back to Spain, but Valencia’s representatives this morning tried to save the deal in last-minute talks with Fulham officials at chairman Mohamed al Fayed’s Harrods department store in Knightsbridge.

The 6ft 5in hitman and his representatives arrived in London on Friday afternoon and held talks with Fulham officials until the small hours of Saturday morning.

Valencia’s representative Manuel Llorente actually claimed the transfer had been agreed on Saturday, saying: ‘‘There was interest from other clubs in England, but Fulham pushed hardest.’’

Carew was expected to make the unusual move of holding a news conference in Valencia - rather than in west London - today. However, a statement from the Spanish club was issued instead, revealing the deal is off.

It read: ‘‘Valencia Football Club have refused to re-negotiate the transfer of John Carew to Fulham FC after the English club wanted to modify the agreement, alleging that the player had not passed his medical.

‘‘Valencia refuse to accept any modification to the agreement. Therefore Carew will train with the club tomorrow.

‘‘Valencia’s medical director Jorge Candel wants to assure that the striker is in perfect condition to play football, and more so because he is a player who has a lot of physical strength and he has never missed training.

‘‘He has not suffered an injury that may have damaged his fitness.’’