Rumour Mill-Crikey, Bikey Deal Getting Close?

The Daily Mirror have reported that Reading have rejected a bid by the Clarets believed to be in the order of £2.5 million because the package on offer included too many bonuses and installments.

It is understood however that the two clubs are in further talks with a deal expected within the next 24 hours.

An improved offer thought to be £2.8 million now appears to be on the table.

If the deal goes through, it will certainly be a contoversial one. There is no denying that the Cameroon International is a powehouse in defence with all the quality required to be a defender in the Premier League but there is one huge question mark about his temperament.

He has a history of losing it on the pitch with numerous red cards for tantrums and hotheadedness. Clarets fans in particular will well remember his antics when we played Reading in the Play-Offs Semi-Final first leg match against them at Turf Moor.

After stamping on Robbie Blake to earn himself a sending-off, he then proceeded to try and rip off his shirt which seemed to take ages before he threw it down to the ground and walked off in a rage.

He was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association and earned himself an automatic four match ban as well as being fined by the Royals for his outburst.

This deal looks to be getting ever closer though, so if it happens I would love to be a fly on the wall in the dressing room when Blake meets Bikey. Guess they will have to kiss and make up!

Owen Coyle though with his no nonsense approach must feel he can control Bikey’s outbursts on the pitch and he is believed to admire the player’s power and pace.

Bikey started his professional career with Espanyol in 2002. After a brief spell with Paços de Ferreira in 2004 he moved to Shinnik Yaroslavl in Russia, before signing for Lokomotiv Moscow in July 2005. Reading agreed a season-long loan deal in August 2006 with the Royals having an option to purchase the player at the end of the loan.

In April 2007 Bikey signed a three-year contract with Reading for a transfer fee believed to be over £1 million.

It was thought the player could be joining Marseille in the Summer and was quoted at the time saying:

‘I am flattered by the interest from Marseille, as anyone would be.I would like to play in the Champions League and Marseille is in there.Hopefully I will talk with Reading and see what their plans are for me. I was disappointed we did not go up to the Premier League, but let’s see. Marseille is the biggest club in France, so if they want you, you are excited, but let’s wait and see what will happen.’

That move obviously seems to have fallen through but clearly proved Bikey was willing to consider moving on. Well, OK he may have missed out on Champions League football but at least he could now be playing in the best league in Europe if not the world.