Source: Team_Talk
Gera: I snubbed Fulham stay
Midfielder Zoltan Gera claims he shunned Fulham's offer of a new deal in favour of a West Brom return. [LNB] The Hungary international will rejoin Roy Hodgson's side this summer on the condition he can prove his fitness, having undergone surgery on his ankle last week. [LNB]Gera, who spent four seasons at The Hawthorns before moving to Fulham in the summer of 2008, is hoping to pen a two-year deal with the option of a further year at the Midlands club. [LNB]The 32-year-old's contract at Craven Cottage expired this summer, but he insists new manager Martin Jol wanted him to stay. [LNB]"There was a chance of me staying at Fulham but I had already made a verbal agreement with West Bromwich Albion," he told origo.hu. [LNB]"After I spoke to Hodgson the Fulham manager changed. They wanted me to stay but I didn't want to break my agreement (with West Brom)."[LNB]He added: "I'm grateful to Fulham for the years I spent there. I've received only good things from them. [LNB]"I felt good and they wanted me to stay. It's not true that they told me to go, it was my own decision. I considered it to be the best thing for me." [LNB]Gera is targeting a return to training with West Brom in a month's time, adding: "I hope I can attend training in one month but I wouldn't like to put a definite time on my recovery. [LNB]"I needed this operation so I would not have any more problems with my ankle in the future.[LNB]"I'm very grateful to West Brom for helping me. I'm happy that they made it public that we're close to agreeing a deal. [LNB]"I'd love to sign my contract at West Brom and I think they want me too. I hope that everything will be cleared up in the near future.[LNB]"If everything goes well I plan to sign a two-year contract with the option to extend it by a year."
