Transfers of Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Source: ghanasoccernet

Liverpool chase £18M Ayew

Liverpool could be back in the hunt for Ghanaian star Andre Ayew after the player revealed last week he could leave Olympique Marseille at the end of the season.
The 23-year-old midfielder is gradually growing frustrated with Marseille’s lack of trophy instinct as Paris Saint- Germain moves closer to the French Lique 1 title this term.
In August last year, Marseille Chairman Vincent Labrune confirmed the club’s precarious financial situation could lead to the exit of players with the Ghanaian international mentioned as one of the many stars likely to be sold to offset their bills.
Stephane Mbia, Loic Remy and Cesar Azpilicueta have joined Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea respectively, which leaves Ayew as the next player expected to be sold.
According to UK newspaper Daily Mirror, Liverpool’s performance at Reading last Saturday has reinforced the talk that manager Brendan Rodgers should look for a creative force.
Ayew’s decision to potentially leave the French giants at the end of the current campaign has re-ignited talks that Liverpool could swoop for his services.
The Anfied side has been linked with Ayew for a number of times with former manager Kenny Daglish having expressed interest in signing the player in 2011.
Ayew, who recently signed a one-year contract at the club, has a released clause of £18 million which could prove the stumbling block.
But if QPR paid only £8 million for the far more prolific Loic Remy, Ayew would surely be available for much less than that.
Meanwhile, Ayew is the only Ghanaian named for the Best African Footballer in the French Ligue 1 this season after French media outlets RFI and France 24, who organise the award to honour the deceased former Cameroun international Marc-Vivien Foe, revealed their list of nominees yesterday.
The list of nominees is dominated by Tunisian players who have been excellent in the French top-flight this season with Toulpouse star Aymen Abdennour leading the pack from the north African country.
His compatriots Wahbi Khazri of Bastia as well as Evian star Saber Khelifa were named. Two players who helped Burkina Faso to reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations were also included. Jonathan Pitroipa of Rennes and Lorient youngster Alain Traore were named.
Togo also had two nominees that includes Kossi Agassa of Stade de Reims and Marseille’s Alaixys Romao.
The 11 candidates are fighting to succeed Morocco international Younes Belhanda who won the accolade last year.
The Marc-Vivien Foe Award was initiated in 2009 to honour the best African footballer in the French Ligue 1 during a season.
It is a homage to the late Foe who collapsed and died in 2003 during the Fifa Confederations Cup semi-final between Cameroon and Colombia in Lyon.