Utaka remains with Portsmouth despite relegation

REPORTS from Fratton Park says that Super Eagles’ striker, John Chukwudi Utaka, is ready to follow Portsmouth to relegation despite several offers from top clubs in France, according to Brilafm.net. Interest has come Utaka’s way from his former club, Stade Rennes, and fellow Ligue One side, Lorient, but the rejuvenated star has surprisingly declared that he wants to stay put with relegated Portsmouth rather than seek pastures anew. In his quest to help Portsmouth return immediately to the Premiership after one season, the fleet-footed striker-turned-winger has received a boost from Pompey mate, Steve Finnan, who is also open to staying with the club for the upcoming Championship campaign. Portsmouth has had a troubled season in the Premier League and a poor run of form coupled with points deduction for entering administration, which has seen it finish bottom of the top-flight. Huge financial problems will make it difficult to bounce back at the first time of asking, though the South Coast outfit does have the FA Cup final with Chelsea to look forward to later this month and he is also open to remaining at Fratton Park next term. However, it is not bound to be an open-shut deal for Utaka, as the Super Eagles star is now hanging unto hope that return to form would open fresh opportunities for him. For the immediate future, Utaka hopes that his goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend will convince Pompey’s manager, Avram Grant, to give him a starting place in the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley on the 15th. “It is not up to me to say whether I have done enough to play in the FA Cup final. It is up to the manager to decide. But yes, it would be nice if Avram and I were still here at the club next season,” he said.