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Portsmouth, Everton eyeing O'Connor

A host of Premiership clubs are chasing Lokomotiv Moscow striker Garry O'Connor.

The striker, 24, moved from Hibernian to Lokomotiv in a £1.6million move last February but is keen to return home after his young family failed to settle in Russia.

His profile has been raised in recent weeks after being welcomed back into the Scotland set-up by boss Alex McLeish despite going AWOL ahead of a Euro 2008 qualifier against Ukraine back in October.

He marked his comeback by grabbing the only goal of the game in a friendly in Austria, before bagging another goal in the crucial 2-0 win over the Faroe Islands this week.

O'Connor has been linked with Fulham, Portsmouth and Everton, and is also attracting interest from France and Germany.

However, his agent admits the asking price means there are no firm offers on the table yet.

"People have contacted us and there have been talks but there is nothing concrete at the moment," said O'Connor's representative Rudi Vata.

"There have been enquiries and we have given those clubs all the information they want to know.

"Many clubs would love to have Garry O'Connor but the question mark right now is over the transfer fee. So many clubs can't pay the fee.

"He would love to play in the Premiership for sure. It's the best football league in the world and it would be a fantastic experience for Garry.

"I'm sure if he had the chance to go there, he would."

He added: "Garry is missing his family a lot. His fiancé didn't settle in Russia at all and is pregnant with their second child so she is spending most of the time in Scotland. It's not easy for him but he's doing okay.

"It's been a difficult year for him but it will toughen him up, it will be good experience for him."

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