Pericard played in the Champions League for Juventus

Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott says he has a contingency plan if striker Vincent Pericard turns down a new deal at the club.

Reports suggest Pericard, 27, is set to leave Brunton Park next week at the end of his short-term contract.

"We were always aware that there was a chance that Vincent may or may not stay," Abbott told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"We have got a game-plan for if he stays and we have also got a game-plan if he goes."

Pericard has scored six times in 16 appearances for the Cumbrians since joining in October of last year.The Cameroon-born striker has been linked with a return to League One rivals Southampton where he had a spell on loan in 2008.

"At the minute it is speculation rather than affirmative," Abbott said.

At the minute there is dialogue between the two clubs and we are not sure which way that will go Greg Abbott on Gary Madine's loan at Coventry

"We made him a tremendous offer and if that is what they are going to do then we are probably powerless to prevent that."

Pericard came through the Juventus academy before joining Portsmouth in 2002 and helped them to promotion to the Premier League in his first season.

Loan spells at Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield United followed before joining former Argyle boss Tony Pulis at Stoke in 2006. He joined Carlisle on a three-month contract following his release last summer.

Abbott has also confirmed that he will speak to Coventry City this week over striker Gary Madine's future.

The 19-year-old has spent the last three months on loan at the Championship club and City manager Chris Coleman is believed to be keen to make the deal a permanent one.

Abbott said: "At the minute there is dialogue between the two clubs and we are not sure which way that will go."

606: DEBATE Pericard is good when the ball is in a five-metre radius but he can be quite frustrating to watch CarlisleUnited4tw

The Carlisle boss is also hopeful that Manchester City midfielder Adam Clayton will return to Brunton Park after completing a successful loan spell last week.

Clayton, 20, has returned to Eastlands for a two-week assessment under new City boss Roberto Mancini before a decision is made on his immediate future.

"We got a nice phone call from senior management from Manchester City to say how well well they thought his game had developed and they thanked us for giving him the opportunity to play at League One level," Abbott said.

"They are very keen to have a look at him, which is very understandable."

Clayton, an England Under-20 international, impressed in his 11 appearances for Carlisle and Abbott is keen to see him back.

"The situation is if he is not quite seen as ready for the first team at Manchester City then we would like to think that we would have an opportunity of getting him back," he said.

"His performances of late have probably created a lot of interest in him as well and that is one of the downsides of the loan system - you are never always guaranteed.

"But we are hopeful that if he doesn't get right into the forefront of the manager's plans then we may be able to do something later this month."

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