Hopkin and Lewis set for transfers

BRADFORD'S David Hopkin is set to leave the Premier League today while Gillingham's Junior Lewis should complete a move in the opposite direction.

Hopkin, a former Scottish international midfielder, will rejoin Crystal Palace today as the Bantams accept a £1 million loss on the player who signed for the club just eight months ago in a £2.5 million deal from Leeds United.

With manager Jim Jefferies resigned to the fact that Bradford are doomed to relegation, the sale of Hopkin is just another symptom of the Scottish manager's attempts at rationalisation before the club's drop.

With Hopkin to sign for Palace later today for £1.5million, chairman Geoffrey Richmond said: "David was bought as a Premier League player on a substantial Premier League package.

"I feel it's beyond the ability of a potential Division One club to justify such a package which would probably pay for four Division One players.

"We have looked at other Premier League clubs that have been relegated and have tried to learn from them.

"We want to be in a position to put a team together to have a chance of going straight back up."

Hopkin joins Stan Collymore, Dan Petrescu and Isaiah Rankin in leaving Bradford, while Lee Sharpe and Peter Atherton are on loan deals with Portsmouth and Birmingham respectively with a view to permanent moves.

Goalkeeper Aidan Davison yesterday rejected the chance of a move to Cardiff, but is now one of a host of players expected to join the growing exodus over the next few months, along with Benito Carbone, Jamie Lawrence, Ian Nolan, Matt Clarke, Dean Saunders, Wayne Jacobs and possibly Stuart McCall.

Eoin Jess, who plays his last game of a three-month loan spell from Aberdeen against Manchester City on Saturday, is not expected to sign permanently despite recent lengthy talks with Jefferies.

Meanwhile, Leicester City and Peter Taylor are finally set to complete a permanent move for loan-star Lewis.

The 27-year-old player has finally agreed personal terms with the Foxes and will put pen to paper in a £150,000 deal, subject to him passing a medical later today.

Taylor said: "Junior has now agreed terms and everything should be all sorted out today when he will have a medical. I am delighted to sign him. He's only played the five games but has already made his mark on the team.

"I was looking for a holding type of midfield player after Neil Lennon went and he has been doing that job effectively.

"He's never played in the Premiership before but he's quickly won the confidence of the players who are not afraid to give him the ball."