Palace accept Wigan's Johnson bid

Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has revealed the club have accepted an £8.5 million offer from Wigan for star striker Andy Johnson.

Johnson is reportedly due to hold talks with Wigan owner Dave Whelan and manager Paul Jewell on Friday.

Bolton have offered £8million for Johnson, with Everton willing to bid only £7.25million and Jordan today warned both clubs to raise their bids for the player - or watch him join Wigan.

Jordan believes that Portsmouth are also interested in the player, but stressed that Wigan are the only club to have matched Palace's valuation.

"Wigan are in the box seat," Jordan said. "Everton and Bolton are very keen to have the player's services, but they need to get a move on. Wigan have offered £8.5million, which is money I consider reasonable and which is on the terms I want.

"It is predominantly those three clubs who are interested in Andrew, although I believe there is also interest from Portsmouth."

Asked whether he expected Bolton and Everton to raise their bids, Jordan added: "Nothing is ever simple in football, and I will not hold my breath."

Johnson left training with the England World Cup squad - the 25-year-old is on standby for the tournament - on Monday to discuss his future with Jordan.

The former Birmingham player signed a new five-year deal with Palace last summer, but the Eagles' failure to make an instant return to the Premiership appears to have convinced him it is time to move on.

Jordan returns to his home in Spain tomorrow - but he is also seeking a new manager after Iain Dowie left the club earlier in the week. Palace have been linked with an approach to former Newcastle manager Graeme Souness, and the pair will reportedly hold talks next week.

Jordan said: "The new manager's clear brief will be to get this team promoted in as short a space of time as possible. There are big expectations on the job, not just from me but from the football people who believe Palace should have been promoted last season or could win promotion next season."