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Premier League club Liverpool has joined the race to acquire Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yueng, who is reportedly leaving Celtic ahead of the 2012-2013 season.
British newspaper The Sun reported Wednesday that the time-honored Premier League team is keen to land the 23-year-old midfielder.
The club is lining up a 7 million pound ($10.8 million) bid for the Celtic star, according to the newspaper, adding that new Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers has Ki “high on his wishlist of summer signings.”
Aside from Liverpool, another Premier League club, QPR, Russia’s Rubin Kazan, Spain’s Deportivo La Cornua and several German Bundesliga clubs are showing interest in the Parkland midfield star as well.
“Liverpool lead the way but QPR will not give up without a fight,” The Sun said.
QPR Chairman Tony Fernandes recently said: “Ki is a very good player and we are very aware of him. He is a player we will be watching and also monitoring closely.”
QPR just signed Ki’s compatriot, star midfielder Park Ji-sung, on Monday for a transfer fee of 5 million pounds, ending his seven-year career at Manchester United.
British newspaper The Sun reported Wednesday that the time-honored Premier League team is keen to land the 23-year-old midfielder.
The club is lining up a 7 million pound ($10.8 million) bid for the Celtic star, according to the newspaper, adding that new Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers has Ki “high on his wishlist of summer signings.”
Aside from Liverpool, another Premier League club, QPR, Russia’s Rubin Kazan, Spain’s Deportivo La Cornua and several German Bundesliga clubs are showing interest in the Parkland midfield star as well.
“Liverpool lead the way but QPR will not give up without a fight,” The Sun said.
QPR Chairman Tony Fernandes recently said: “Ki is a very good player and we are very aware of him. He is a player we will be watching and also monitoring closely.”
QPR just signed Ki’s compatriot, star midfielder Park Ji-sung, on Monday for a transfer fee of 5 million pounds, ending his seven-year career at Manchester United.
The West London side closed last season in 17th out of the 20-team first-division league, so it faces the urgent task of raising its standing this season through new signings. Liverpool ranked eighth in the 2011-2012 Premier League, a much higher standing than QPR, and also Ki is said to admire iconic midfielder Steven Gerrad.
The point of contention over Ki’s transfer is fee negotiations. Celtic recently received an offer from Rubin Kazan for Kim with a fee of 6 million pounds, but the negotiations broke down after Celtic demanded more than 9 million pounds.
Ki joined the Scottish League club from FC Seoul for a 2 million pound fee in December 2009, and has 18 months left on his existing contract.
“Negotiations have not progressed yet to make an announcement. QPR or Liverpool are the clubs to negotiate with,” Ki’s agent told reporters.
Ki, a member of the national team for the London 2012 Olympics, declined to comment on the issue of his transfer, saying instead that his focus at the moment is on the Olympics. He will likely decide on his future after the Games.
He will leave with the national squad for London on Sunday after a practice match with New Zealand in Seoul on Saturday.
By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)
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Articles by Korea Herald
