LATEST GOSSIP: Futacs could join Foxes

As the rumour mill continues to turn and transfer activity picks up pace, it appears free agent Marko Futacs could be close to joining Championship side Leicester City.

Futacs was offered a new deal at the end of the season as his one-year contract came to a close, but after Futacs failed to contact administrator Trevor Birch before the offer deadline, Futacs is now technically a free agent.

Sources in Leicester claim that Marko has now joined Leicester on a trial as he looks for a new club – still yet to contact Pompey about whether he is to return to Fratton Park.

After missing the deadline at the start of the month, Appleton said to The News: “I am not sure where we stand with Marko.

“We cannot increase our offer. That won’t be happening. But I know his agent very well and will be speaking to him about the situation.

“The offer we made was a good one, a very good one, and we won’t be going any higher.”

It was rumoured that Barnsley were initially after Futacs after stealing Kelvin Etuhu as well – another player who was offered a new contract but turned it down. The Daily Star reported last month that Crystal Palace, Leicester and Watford were all after the Hungarian giant.

The only potentially good news is that Pompey will receive a small fee if he joins a new club. Any players under the age of 24 that have been offered a new contract but choose to move to a new club will receive compensation. Football League rule 56.5 of Section 6 states :“A Club will only be entitled to seek a Compensation Fee for the loss of a Non-Contract Player’s Registration who is an Under 24 Player if such Club has made the Player a written offer of terms to become a Contract Player prior to the expiration of the Registration or for other reasons satisfactory to the Board. The amount of such Compensation Fee shall be agreed between the two Clubs concerned or in default of such agreement should be determined by the Professional Football Compensation Committee on the application of either of such Clubs.”

Futacs grabbed the headlines, and of course grabbed Leicester’s attention, when he struck a great technical volley in the 1-1 draw v Leicester on New Year’s Eve, before scoring in the following game against Watford.

The 22-year-old scored five goals in 30 appearances for Pompey since joining from Werder Bremen II in August 2011.

If agreed, Futacs will join former Pompey striker David Nugent and former loan defender Ritchie De Laet at the King Power Stadium.

In Other News…

Defensive Midfielder Aaron Mokoena has finally agreed to mutually cancel his contract at Portsmouth. Mokoena has agreed to join South African side Bidvest Wits but had a disagreement with the club in terms of a pay-off for the remainder of his contract.

However, the club have now officially confirmed Mokoena’s departure after the two parties came to an agreement over the compensation due to the 31-year-old.

Trevor Birch told the club’s official website: “We’re very pleased to have reached an agreement with Aaron over his departure from Fratton Park.

“We appreciate his efforts in making this happen, thank him for his service to the club and wish him every success in South Africa.”