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http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/allsopp-being-courted-by-foreign-club/2009/09/03/1251570804323.html
Allsopp being courted by foreign club
MELBOURNE Victory faces a battle to persuade foundation player Danny Allsopp to extend his five-year stint at the club due to interest in the striker from a Middle Eastern club.
Allsopp did not play in or attend the Victory's 1-1 draw with Newcastle last night at Etihad Stadium - due to hamstring soreness, the club insisted.
Sources close to Allsopp last night confirmed that he was in line for a potential seven-figure move to a cashed-up club, which sees the big Australian frontman as the sort of forward who can help drive its dream to achieve continent-wide success.
It is understood the club is from Qatar, the tiny oil-rich but highly ambitious state in the Persian Gulf, and has Asian Champions League ambitions. Qatari club Um-Salal is in the quarter-finals of the 2009 Asian Champions League, where it will face South Korea's FC Seoul over two legs later this month.
Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick would not be drawn on the reported interest in its target man - ''We don't discuss transfers and contracts of players'' - and insisted it was not unusual that the 31-year-old did not at least watch the match from the sidelines.
''Danny wasn't here today because I gave him a break. He needed a rest,'' Merrick said.
''With a 27-round season, we've done it with Kevin [Muscat], [Evan] Berger was supposed to have the weekend off but he's here.
''Bear in mind that Danny's been a top goalscorer and loyal servant outstanding for four seasons.
''Aren't people quick to jump on him when they get a chance?''
Allsopp is believed to have aggravated an injury in last week's loss to Perth Glory, but there have been suggestions that he did not want to play against Newcastle because he was unhappy that Victory might not want to let him go.
The Victorian born and bred striker, who returned to Melbourne five years ago, is out of contract at the end of the first phase of Victory's Asian Champions League campaign next year. Those matches will be concluded by May 2010.
Allsopp has just turned 31 and it would be surprising if a player in his position was not tempted by the riches on offer from Middle Eastern clubs who pay terrific wages for foreign players.
Gold Coast United defender Adam Griffiths was sold to Saudi side Al Shabab last month in a transfer deal reportedly worth $650,000. Griffiths is being paid $1.2 million a season.
A striker like Allsopp would, in normal circumstances, command a significantly higher wage than a defender.
It is believed the Qatari club was chasing a foreign striker from an Asian-based club but the deal fell through.
Allsopp being courted by foreign club
MELBOURNE Victory faces a battle to persuade foundation player Danny Allsopp to extend his five-year stint at the club due to interest in the striker from a Middle Eastern club.
Allsopp did not play in or attend the Victory's 1-1 draw with Newcastle last night at Etihad Stadium - due to hamstring soreness, the club insisted.
Sources close to Allsopp last night confirmed that he was in line for a potential seven-figure move to a cashed-up club, which sees the big Australian frontman as the sort of forward who can help drive its dream to achieve continent-wide success.
It is understood the club is from Qatar, the tiny oil-rich but highly ambitious state in the Persian Gulf, and has Asian Champions League ambitions. Qatari club Um-Salal is in the quarter-finals of the 2009 Asian Champions League, where it will face South Korea's FC Seoul over two legs later this month.
Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick would not be drawn on the reported interest in its target man - ''We don't discuss transfers and contracts of players'' - and insisted it was not unusual that the 31-year-old did not at least watch the match from the sidelines.
''Danny wasn't here today because I gave him a break. He needed a rest,'' Merrick said.
''With a 27-round season, we've done it with Kevin [Muscat], [Evan] Berger was supposed to have the weekend off but he's here.
''Bear in mind that Danny's been a top goalscorer and loyal servant outstanding for four seasons.
''Aren't people quick to jump on him when they get a chance?''
Allsopp is believed to have aggravated an injury in last week's loss to Perth Glory, but there have been suggestions that he did not want to play against Newcastle because he was unhappy that Victory might not want to let him go.
The Victorian born and bred striker, who returned to Melbourne five years ago, is out of contract at the end of the first phase of Victory's Asian Champions League campaign next year. Those matches will be concluded by May 2010.
Allsopp has just turned 31 and it would be surprising if a player in his position was not tempted by the riches on offer from Middle Eastern clubs who pay terrific wages for foreign players.
Gold Coast United defender Adam Griffiths was sold to Saudi side Al Shabab last month in a transfer deal reportedly worth $650,000. Griffiths is being paid $1.2 million a season.
A striker like Allsopp would, in normal circumstances, command a significantly higher wage than a defender.
It is believed the Qatari club was chasing a foreign striker from an Asian-based club but the deal fell through.
