The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Korean Premier Leaguer Ji Dong-won may be loaned to Germany: agency

By Korea Herald

Published : Nov. 21, 2012 - 20:22

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South Korean footballer Ji Dong-won, currently confined to the bench in English Premier League, may join a first-division German club on loan, his agency said Wednesday.

The agency, C2 Global, said the Sunderland player could be loaned to FC Augsburg in Bundesliga, Germany's top competition.

"Sunderland is in talks with Augsburg and several other teams regarding Ji's loan," the agency said, confirming recent rumors that some clubs were interested in the 21-year-old. "There have not been any specific developments, but I think we will have something more concrete late this month or early December."

Ji joined Sunderland in June 2011 to become the eighth South Korean, and also the youngest at age 20, to join the top league in England.

He appeared in 21 games last season but has yet to play in any of Sunderland's 12 games so far this season.

"With veterans such as Steven Fletcher and Louis Saha on Sunderland, it's not certain when young players like Ji Dong-won will get a chance to play," the agency said. "Ji himself would like to move to a club where he will see action on the pitch."

English media have recently reported that Augsburg was negotiating a loan deal with Sunderland for Ji.

If the move to Germany materializes, Ji will be reunited with midfielder Koo Ja-cheol, his teammate on the South Korean Olympic team from the London Games this summer.

Augsburg is ranked last among 18 Bundesliga clubs with one win, eight losses and three draws, having scored a league-low eight goals and given up 22.

The league's two worst teams will be relegated to the second division next season, while the 16th-ranked team will face the third-place team from the second division in the relegation playoff. (Yonhap News)