Akinbiyi snubs Wigan for Sheffield United

By Greg Farrimond
February 19 2005

Sheffield United have had a bid accepted by Championship rivals Stoke City for striker Ade Akinbiyi. Wigan Athletics hpes of signing him are now well and truly dashed -which is good news to some fans.

The Blades have been chasing the former Wolves and Leicester City hit-man for some time, as they look to bolster their attacking options. Wigan Athletic, Burnley and Nottingham Forest have all expressed an interest in Akinbiyi, but The Blades are hoping to steal a march on their rivals by luring him to Bramall Lane. United are believed to have agreed a fee in the region of £600,000, which is also thought to include a £50,000 bonus for Stoke, if The Blades win promotion to The Premiership. Akinbiyi has now been given permission to speak to the South Yorkshire club and if terms can be agreed and a medical passed, he is set to move to Bramall Lane. "We can confirm that Sheffield United have made an offer which has been accepted, and the player has been given permission to hold talks with them," said a Stoke spokesman. A lot of wigan fans though were against the signing, saying that a player like akinbiyi is not what Wigan need.