Kuffour set to renew with Bayern

BAYERN MUNICH have opened contract extension talks with Ghanaian defender Sami Kuffour, in light of his role in the club's success this season.

Bayern's vice-president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "His recent performances have impressed us. He has proved we can rely on him and so we decided to start talking to him the day after after the Champions League final in Milan."

Kuffour's current deal runs out in 2003 and the defender was recently targeted by Barcelona and Lazio, both of whom are rumoured to have made him a dream offer. This means Bayern will improve his salary, to ensure he stays at the home of the European champions.

Rummenigge commented on Lazio's offer by saying: "I told Sami he can go there, but that he could forget about being paid regularly. Lazio are in debt to such an extent that Real Madrid's supposed debt (rumoured to be in the region of $US 200m) is peanuts compared to Lazio."