Mpenza's appearances in an Argyle shirt have been rare
Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock has given his strongest hint yet that Belgian striker Emile Mpenza may have played his last match for the club.
The 30-year-old, the club's highest earner, has been struck by another injury, this time to this hamstring.
Mpenza has started just three games and made six more substitute appearances since moving to Home Park in September.
"We went down the road of discussing some financial terms because we can't keep waiting on him," Sturrock said.
"Every time he gets to a semblance of standard he pulls up with something else," Sturrock added to BBC Spotlight.
It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to appreciate that he's our highest paid player. With his wages null and void it would enable me to strengthen the team.
Paul Sturrock
Mpenza has been dogged by a series of injuries and illnesses since joining Argyle as a free agent. He is the club's highest earner being paid a reported �10,000 a week.
The club are to send Mpenza for a scan to determine the severity of his latest injury.
He joined the club on a free transfer in the summer having previously played for the likes of Manchester City, Hamburg and Standard Liege, as well as winning 52 caps for Belgium.
"Emile and I have had a discussion about things because obviously services rendered have been very few games for the amount of money we're paying him.
"We've got to sit down and have a real think about things again. Depending on how long this is going to be we have to make sure it's right for the football club."
And Sturrock says the protracted situation with Mpenza is hampering his plans to bring in new faces to the club on loan:
"It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to appreciate that he's our highest paid player. With his wages null and void it would enable me to strengthen the team.
"Emile is an issue we've got to very, very quickly sort out."
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