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Brad Inman has agreed a three-year deal with Crewe Alex after a compensation fee was agreed with Newcastle United for his services.

The 21-year-old midfielder has been at the centre of a long-running transfer saga all summer.

He rejected an extension at Newcastle but the Magpies, owed compensation due to his age, rejected Crewe’s first three offers.

But the fourth and final bid was accepted yesterday and the switch for the Scotland under 21 international, who enjoyed a successful loan spell at Gresty Road last term, is expected to be completed in the next few hours.

Inman said: “I spoke to the gaffer (Steve Davis) when I was on holiday in Australia and I told him I wanted to come back, I had a great loan spell here.

“I have never dealt with anything like this before, I didn’t expect it to take so long.

“The first bid went in, then the second and they kept going and I started to wonder if it was ever going to happen.

“When I heard there was a fourth and final bid I felt it could be the end of it.

“I got the call yesterday (Monday) letting me know the clubs have agreed the fee but I had to keep it quiet which was hard because I was so happy.

“Now I can get back to playing football. I am here for three years and I have to push on.

“No matter what happened I wanted to come to Crewe. There may have been other interest but I didn’t look into it because I had my mind set.

“I don’t see it as a step down, I am at an age when I am not bothered leaving a Premier League club I am just happy I’m here now.

“Now I want to help the lads push to the Championship, we have a good enough team.

“I’ve been in the gym and I feel fit and ready to go. I feel I am near full fitness, I need some match fitness because I haven’t played the games. Maybe coming on as a sub will help me or under 21 games.

“The gaffer has brought in good additions to the squad and I think this will be a good year for Crewe.”