Emerton follows Fowler to Leeds

Robbie Fowler arrived at Elland Road yesterday to agree terms on a four-and-a-half-year contract and begin the medical which will formalise his £11m transfer from Liverpool to Leeds United. But as the Anfield club's supporters struggled to come to terms with the sale of their home-town hero, Leeds were already turning their attentions towards their next acquisition.

The ambitious West Yorkshire club are on the verge of agreeing an £8m fee for Feyenoord's Australian international midfielder Brett Emerton – a deal that if successfully negotiated will take David O'Leary's spending at Elland Road to over £100m since he became manager in October 1998.

Emerton, who rejected the chance to play for Manchester United as a youngster, is now keen to come to England after the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup finals with Australia.

Meanwhile, the dust continued to swirl around Fowler's move across the Pennines yesterday, with Liverpool's acting manager, Phil Thompson, insisting it was the England striker's own decision to leave, while admitting it was "a sad thing for the club".

Thompson said: "It wasn't our decision to let him go. Robbie wants to go and to see a local boy moving on is a sad thing for the club. More than most he felt it difficult to fit in with the rotation system.

"Robbie felt that a move at this moment in time would help his career and you have to respect that. He feels the time is right to move on and it was his decision."

The Liverpool chief executive, Rick Parry, admitted, however, that the fear of losing Fowler for nothing – as happened to Steve McManaman when he moved from Liverpool to Real Madrid under the Bosman ruling two years ago – was a key factor in the decision to accept Leeds' offer.

Parry also confirmed that Houllier was fully involved in the decision to cash in on Fowler. "There is always a risk in these situations that a player will sit tight for the remainder of his contract and still go to one of your rivals free. It is better to get a substantial fee," Parry said.