Injury halts Carew's move

Fulham's long search for a reliable goalscorer was still no nearer completion yesterday after the Valencia striker John Carew failed a medical, causing the collapse of his proposed £5m move to Craven Cottage.

The move for the Norwegian international was virtually completed, but the deal fell apart after medical tests revealed that the 6ft 5in, 22-year-old, Carew is suffering from a potentially career-threatening condition known as "jumper's knee" in both legs.

The Fulham manager, Jean Tigana, wanted to take Carew on loan until the end of the season in order to assess the extent of the condition, but Valencia refused. The Spanish club issued a statement which said: "Valencia's medical director, Jorge Candel, wants to make it clear that the striker is in perfect condition to play football, and more so because he is a player who has a lot of physical strength. He has never missed training and not suffered an injury that may have damaged his fitness."

The Cottagers' midfielder Lee Clark was also the subject of speculation linking him to Rangers yesterday but, despite comments attributed to the player suggesting he would welcome a move to Scotland, both Fulham and Clark's agent, Paul Stretford, moved to deny the stories.

"There has been no contact between the clubs, and Lee only signed a new long-term contract at Fulham in the summer," Stretford said last night. "I would like to state unequivocally that Lee has not spoken to anyone in the media and given any quotes with reference to Rangers, his future at Fulham or any topic regarding his career."

Earlier the 29-year-old Clark had been quoted as saying that he has been talking to the Scottish club for several days. "Talks are continuing at the moment [with Rangers] and I hope everything will be sorted out by the end of the week," he had reportedly said.