Yakubu: I’ve got to go now (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Yakubu: I’ve got to go now

8:52am Monday 28th May 2012 in Sport By Chris Flanagan , Sports reporter

YAKUBU says he may have to leave Blackburn Rovers this summer after admitting he does not want to play in the Championship next season.

The Nigerian was Rovers’ top scorer with 18 goals during the 2011/12 campaign but it was not enough to stop Steve Kean’s side suffering relegation from the Premier League.

Yakubu previously played in England’s second tier with Portsmouth and during a loan spell at Leicester but is keen to remain in the top flight.

Rovers will be key to hang on to the striker but, as previously revealed, the Lancashire Telegraph understands he has a relegation clause in his contract – currently due to expire in 2014 – that would make him available for around £2m.

A number of Premier League clubs – including QPR, Reading and Southampton – have already been linked with the 29-year-old.

“I still have two years left at Blackburn but I played in the Championship before, it was good but I don’t want to play there again,” said Yakubu, who has been in Zimbabwe for the testimonial match of former Rovers striker Benjani.

“I’ve had a great time at Blackburn, the fans and the staff have been really good to me.

“You never know what the future is going to be, I still have a contract and we’ll see how it goes.

“We went down and everyone feels bad, the manager feels bad too, the supporters and everyone in Blackburn.

“I hope we are going to bounce back to the Premier League where the club belong to be.

“It’s not going to be easy but the club is going to stick together to achieve that.

“I think it’s too early to say whether I’ll be in the Championship or in the Premier League.”