Portsmouth striker David Nugent is out-of-contract this summer and the one-time England international is keen to resolve his playing situation one way or another in the coming weeks.
The former Bury trainee enjoyed a good footballing education at Gigg Lane in League Two, earning a move to Preston North End, who, at the time were challenging for Championship promotion.
33 goals in 94 games at Deepdale saw Nugent thrust into the Premier League limelight with a £6 million switch to Portsmouth on the south coast.
Nugent initially struggled under the managership of Harry Redknapp at Fratton Park and only this season enjoyed a regular run of games in the side, finishing the 2010/11 season as Pompey’s leading goalscorer with 14 goals in all competitions.
“I’ve played a lot of games this season – the first season I’ve played a lot of games really (at Portsmouth) – so I just want a break, have a think about it (contract offers) and come to a decision,” said Nugent.
Nugent’s flurry of goals this term will have surely alerted sides to his talents and the 25-year-old could prove to be one of the bargain free transfers of this summer should he leave Portsmouth for pastures new.
But will there be top flight attention? Despite Nugent’s call-up to the England senior squad against Andorra he failed to live up to his top flight billing at Portsmouth.
Coping with the rigours of Championship football with ease makes his situation even more puzzling, begging the question – is David Nugent the archetypal ‘yo-yo’ striker? Too good for the second tier but not quite sharp enough for the top level?
Certainly a 1-in-3 goalscoring record in the Championship is incredibly attractive to second tier clubs looking for a goalscorer to shoot them into promotion contention.
A number of ambitious Championship sides have already been linked with moves for Nugent. Ipswich, Leicester and Cardiff are all thought to have sounded out Nugent’s agent with regards to a summer switch and Nugent is desperate to sort his future out one way or another before the close season.
“I want to go away on holiday, relax and know I’ve got a club.
“So hopefully it will be sorted out by the beginning of June. I don’t want it to drag on, not a chance. I hope to get it sorted as soon as possible so I can enjoy my holidays.”
Championship fans – would you take David Nugent to your club this summer?
Or does he appeal to fans of newly promoted Premier League clubs looking for a striker keen to taste the top flight for a second time?
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