Isaiah Rankin was today deciding between Barnsley and Bristol Rovers.

Bradford City have agreed a £400,000 fee with both clubs and now it is up to the striker to choose his move.

Rankin was planning to talk to the two rivals for his signature today as he prepared to become City's second exit in a week following Dan Petrescu's move to Southampton.

Rankin, City's record signing at the time when he joined from Arsenal for £1.3 million in August 1998, has started just 15 games at Valley Parade.

This season he has only appeared as a substitute for the last three minutes at Leicester on New Year's Day.

Boss Jim Jefferies said: "Isaiah's not been a regular for a while. He's not figured and I've got to cut the squad.

"He's a nice lad who works hard but Robbie Blake and Ashley Ward are in there and his chances of playing here are going to be very limited.

"It gives him a chance to go elsewhere and perform regularly and prove he is a good player."

Rankin was due to play in last night's reserve match against Manchester United but was pulled out once transfer negotiations got underway. He was at the ground but left early to prepare for talks.

Barnsley's new manager Nigel Spackman was among the posse of bosses at the game as he hopes to complete his first major signing. But he faces stiff competition from Bristol Rovers.

The Second Division club are desperately short of goals and have netted only eight in 11 home games - the worst record in the country.

Rovers manager Ian Holloway said: "It's obvious we need someone who can put the ball in the net and I'm doing everything I can to rectify the situation.

"I have to be convinced that if I bring him in, he is the right blend and balance for the side. Goalscorers don't just grow on trees."

Big names Stan Collymore and Benito Carbone were not involved in the second-string game which United won 3-2.

Jefferies said: "Stan's been off with the flu and I was surprised to see him back at training so soon.

"And Beni's been playing regularly up to the last game or two so it was more for players like Gareth Grant to get a game and show me what they can do."

Collymore has told Andy King he should concentrate on putting his own house in order following comments by the Swindon boss that he would rather quit than sign the Bradford City striker.

King, whose side are bottom of the Second Division, claimed that following Collymore'' troubled past, he would not have him at the club if he were to come for nothing and receive only £16 a week.

But Collymore said: "I would just like to tell King not to concern himself slagging off proven Premiership goalscorers and threatening to resign when surely he should be concentrating on his own team's miserable predicament.

"He neither has the managerial track record nor standing in the game to be passing such unwarranted comments on me, especially as I have had no contact whatsoever from Swindon Town."