IPSWICH confirmed today that they are willing to allow striker Pablo Counago to leave on a free transfer.The news is no great shock as Town earlier indicated they would like to remove the former Spanish Under-21 cap from the wage bill.
IPSWICH confirmed today that they are willing to allow striker Pablo Counago to leave on a free transfer.
The news is no great shock as Town earlier indicated they would like to remove the former Spanish Under-21 cap from the wage bill.
With the club committed to slashing their annual wage bill to £5million, Counago's £1m-a-year deal gives manager Joe Royle little leeway to bring in reinforcements.
Royle said recently that Town would listen to offers for the 25-year-old, signed on a free transfer from Celta Vigo in 2001 and whose contract is due to expire next summer.
The Town boss said: “I've sat down and talked about things with Pablo and decided to make him available on a free transfer.”
Counago, top scorer in the 2002-2003 campaign with 16 goals, has not started any of Town's three games this season and was absent for the final two months of last season with a hamstring injury.
But today's news is no guarantee that he will soon be on his way, unless he is willing to take a massive cut in earnings.
As has happened with other Portman Road stars, the club will probably have to hand him a pay-off before he is prepared to quit.
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