Fears that Shaun Goater may be forced out of Manchester City by the arrival of Robbie Fowler subsided yesterday when the Leeds striker sensationally pulled out of the ?7-million deal.

Question marks arose over the futures of Goater and strike partner Darren Huckerby after City boss Kevin Keegan agreed the fee with Leeds, finalised personal terms with the player and oversaw a medical.

The arrival of Fowler would have meant there were seven forwards at Maine Road and the common belief was that someone would have to make way.

However, those rumours may now count for nought following the surprise collapse of the transfer.

"I had the opportunity to think things over," Fowler was quoted as saying by Sky Sports television.

"I wanted to stay at Leeds United, I'm happy to do so. Now I want to do my best for the club."

His agent George Scott added: "He had time to reflect on the deal and realised it was not the deal for him, although he was flattered by Kevin Keegan's interest.

"Everything was agreed financially. He passed his medical. During the medical he had time to reflect and has decided this is not the right move for him."

The news will come as a crushing blow to Keegan who had hoped to partner Fowler with ?13-million man Nicolas Anelka.

He hoped to have the deal concluded yesterday in the hope of fielding the player against Newcastle United tomorrow.

"We fully respect Robbie's decision," the boss said. "Robbie is a top class professional, an excellent player, a great person and I am bitterly disappointed that he will not be joining us."

City Chairman David Bernstein believed that the deal was close to being completed until he got a call from the player's agent.

"We thought we had a deal but I had a call at 3.30 p.m. from George Scott saying Robbie has reconsidered, we knew no more than that, he gave us no other reasons. Everything was in place and this came as quite a surprise," he said.

"I spoke to his agent this morning, and things were progressing as planned, then everything went rather quiet. We didn't hear anything for a couple of hours and then I had that call out of the blue.

"Robbie's a great player and we are disappointed, but if we are having players come to Manchester City they must want to play for us."

Leeds United issued a short statement saying: "We respect Robbie Fowler's right to change his mind."

City's failure to lure the player means that Bermudian Goater - who has scored six goals in the top flight this term - is the hot favourite to turn out alongside Frenchman Anelka at St. James' Park.

Rumours that Goater had opened talks with Bolton Wanderers were emphatically denied by the 32-year-old in his exclusive column in this week and he declared his intention to stay and fight for his place regardless of who was to come in.

"I am not thinking any differently to the way I did when players came to the club previously," he said at the time. "I look at it this way - if I get in the team I know I have to play at a high level. I have to work hard to keep that player out of the starting 11. I have to maintain a high standard because if not I know there is someone waiting in the wings to take their chance and that has to be good for the team."