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Socceroos midfielder Nick Carle is poised to join the long list of Australians in English football after his Turkish club agreed on a transfer fee with Championship side Bristol City.
Carle, 26, was told this week he was unwanted by Superlig side Genclerbirligi, whom he joined from Newcastle Jets after taking out last season’s A-League player of the year award.
Bristol said today a transfer fee – believed to be around $A1.14 million – had been accepted and that, pending a visa clearance, the attacking midfielder could join the club within “a week to ten days”.
“Nick is busy trying to arrange a visa, but he doesn’t foresee any problems in that respect,” City boss Gary Johnson said.
“He will add quality to our squad and give me extra options because he can play anywhere across the midfield and also up front.”
A move to Bristol would see Carle join Socceroos teammates David Carney (Sheffield United) and Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester City) in England’s second-tier competition.
It could also soon propel him alongside the likes of Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill and Harry Kewell in the Premier League with Bristol right in the race for promotion.
They are currently joint league leaders with West Bromwich Albion and Watford on 47 points following today’s 2-1 win over Coventry.
“We are delighted to now be one of three clubs vying for top position in the Championship, but that won’t stop me trying to bring in some new faces,” Johnson said.
After his outstanding 2006-2007 A-League season, Carle expressed a desire to move abroad to enhance his prospects with the national side.
He made six appearances for the Socceroos last year – five as a substitute – including Australia’s Asian Cup quarter final loss to Japan, where he scored in the penalty shootout.
His first international start came in November’s 1-0 friendly win over Nigeria.
News this week of Carle’s likely exit from Turkey aroused interest from several Australian clubs about a possible return to the A-League, but Jets chief executive John Tsatsimas said it was unlikely Carle would want to return this early.
“He’s made a step abroad before and it didn’t work out for him and I think he was a bit disappointed he didn’t stay longer,” Tsatsimas said of Carle’s brief stint with French club Troyes in 2002.
“I think this time he’s more of the opinion he’d stick it out a bit longer.”
There are currently eight Australians contracted to Championship clubs and 20 in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are expected make another move for Palermo’s Mark Bresciano during the January transfer window after their attempt to sign him collapsed at the start of the season.
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