LIVERPOOL manager Roy Evans washed his hands of Stan Collymore yesterday and then promptly and perplexingly announced that the enfant terrible of north west football had still to fully realise a rich potential.
Although Evans diplomatically insisted that the former England international's Anfield adventure had ended inside two years for personal rather than sporting reasons, he will, nonetheless, be pleased to rid himself of a player who throughout his chequered career has managed to unearth problems where none previously existed.
Within hours of Collymore completing the formalities of a £7 million move to Aston Villa, Evans - the man who paid Nottingham Forest £8.5 million to lure him away from the City ground just 22 months ago - was outlining the many, multi-faceted problems which had precipitated his sale.
"We feel he's got tremendous talent still to come out," he said. "Even so, this is probably the sensible thing to do, because he has never quite settled here - certainly away from the pitch.
"He kept his home in Cannock and obviously preferred to live in that area. But travelling 100 miles here and then 100 miles back in a day proved difficult.
"During this season there was a stage when he was quite homesick, but he battled away and got on with it. His mother is not in very good health and he wanted to be near her; he just didn't settle up here," he added.
With the departure of Collymore creating quite a sizeable vacuum inside Liverpool senior squad, Evans insisted that the search for a top-quality replacement was already well under way.
"The priority now is to get someone in; we do need to sign a striker," said Evans. "I must have about 40 videos on my desk at the moment featuring forwards. The money from Stan's sale will definitely be going into the transfer pot.
Evans also reiterated that he was still interested in providing Inter Milan's England international midfielder Paul Ince with a route back to the Premiership this summer.
"Paul has still to decide whether he's staying in Italy or coming back to England," said Evans. "Yes, we have an interest in him, but until we know exactly what he is going to do there is nothing we can do about it."
West Ham United's Croatian international defender Slaven Bilic yesterday safely negotiated a medical examination at Goodison Park and will formally complete a £4.5 million transfer to Everton this morning.
Bilic, who was also coveted by Liverpool and Manchester United, will become the highest paid defender in British football with a weekly pay packet of around £20,000.
Leeds have completed the £500,000 signing of Scottish international full-back David Robertson from Rangers.
Italian clubs Perugia and Tori no were both keen to land the 28-year-old Robertson, whose contract at Ibrox has expired.
But Robertson chose a move to the Premiership and Leeds boss George Graham said: "I'm delighted David has agreed to join us.
"He's experienced at international level and is very quick and likes to get forward.
Meanwhile, the Leeds' squad has gone for a two-match tour in America without Tony Yeboah, Carlton Palmer and Ian Rush, fuelling speculation that all three will be leaving Elland Road this summer.
The arrival of Robertson casts a doubt over the future of Tony Dorigo, but Graham added: "If Tony wants to stay I will be more than happy.
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