• Premier League

Odemwingie could buy out contract

Peter Odemwingie is considering buying out his contract at West Bromwich Albion in a bid to leave The Hawthorns at the end of the season.

The Nigeria international will return to the club on Wednesday to face punishment over his latest breach of club discipline, following his weekend Twitter rant against the Premier League side.

Odemwingie is facing the prospect of a second fine of two weeks' wages, around £80,000, for a tirade against Albion on Twitter on Sunday.

Albion have officially stated they will deal with the player's comments "internally", although it is understood they have no intentions of sacking the striker or banning him from using Twitter, after the player claimed he wanted to be sacked.

The prospect of further punishment has not stopped the 31-year-old from taking to Twitter again, ahead of his return from a family break in Dubai, and now it appears he is thinking of buying out his existing contract.

Odemwingie tweeted on Tuesday: "I see a free player. A player who buys out his contract soon. Or a retired player. Does he look like he cares much? They made him not to."

Odemwingie had previously retweeted a message from a follower pointing out that he would be eligible to buy out his contract this summer under article 17 of FIFA's transfer regulations.

Article 17 allows players over the age of 28 to end their contracts two years after signing by paying a compensation figure that is determined by their weekly wage and their original transfer fee.

Odemwingie's future already looked uncertain after his January transfer request, the subsequent statements and tweets, and his drive to Queens Park Rangers on deadline day led to a club fine. The striker, however, believes Albion are the ones to blame for the embarrassing situation.

He tweeted on Tuesday: "31st Jan. if there was a prise in the afternoon, there should still be one in the evening. Simple.

"A simple phone call to return back would have been enough for me to return and deal only with laughs about saying bye to team-mates.

"Became adamant? Club should have realised that dealing with an agent's behaviour affects me more than him who exposed me to cameras.

"Then fine me for that and an unauthorised interview? Since when has it become wrong to give interviews? Didn't see that in my contract.

"Drove two hours to London. Spent hours there to drive back alone and arrive home 3am and still turn up at the training in the morning.

"Glad I respectfully thanked everyone before leaving. All could be simply avoided by club statement saying : 'it was a miscommunication'.

"Instead I humbly took the blame on me and promised to comply with club rules. Manager says let's please move on and forget. Yet I am not playing."

Odemwingie has made just four appearances as a substitute since January and criticised the club at the weekend for keeping him on the bench.

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