02.06.2010
Marseille ready to splash out on Forlan: report
French league champions Marseille are hoping to lure Atletico Madrid's Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, seen here in April 2010, to the Stade Velodrome in a deal worth 25 million euros.
Forlan scored an impressive 28 goals for Atletico last season, including 18 in the league and the two goals which allowed his Spanish league side to beat Fulham in the Europa League final last month.
AS sports daily said Marseille -- whose coach is former France international Didier Deschamps -- are ready to spend big to land the versatile Uruguayan, who would boost their chances of progressing in the Champions League.
However landing Forlan, who previously endured an inconsistent two seasons with Manchester United, could be a complicated affair.
The report said Marseille would have to fork out 36 million euros to cancel a clause in Forlan's contract, but added that since Atletico are not qualified for the Champions League the cash-strapped Spaniards would be ready to negotiate.
AS said the only stumbling block could be Forlan's salary expectations.
Argentinian Gabriel Heinze is currently Marseille's top earner with 4.5 million euros a year. It is roughly what Atletico pay Forlan, who would only be interested in leaving the club if a bigger offer was on the table.
Source: © 2010 AFP - Pierre-Philippe Marcou
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