Australian captain and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said on Monday he was flattered to be linked with a move to English Premier League football giants Manchester United.
But Schwarzer said any talk of a transfer from his current club, Middlesbrough, when the premiership transfer window opens in January would be speculation.
Schwarzer is out of contract at the season’s end and has yet to sign a new contract, which could mean he will leave Middlesbrough for nothing under the Bosman free-transfer rule.
Middlesbrough could instead choose to cash in on 32-year-old Schwarzer — valued at about Aus$5-million ($3,6-million) — if he does not sign a new deal by January.
”It’s all speculation — when you have eight months to go on your contract, it’s always going to lead to speculation,” Schwarzer said in Sydney on Monday ahead of Australia’s Oceania Nations Cup final match with the Solomon Islands on Tuesday.
”It’s very flattering [to be linked with Manchester United]. I’ve been around the premiership for a while now and had some good performances, so that tends to get your name put around a bit. But in all honesty, I’m not sure what’s going to happen.”
There is speculation that Manchester United may offer England defender Phil Neville to Middlesbrough in a part-exchange deal to land Schwarzer. — Sapa-AFP