Whites negotiating on Klasnic deal
7:50am Saturday 31st July 2010 in Sport By Marc Iles
Wanderers are refusing to pay over the odds to bring Ivan Klasnic back to the Reebok.
Chairman Phil Gartside is currently haggling with cash-strapped French club Nantes over a season-long loan deal for the Croatia international, in which the Whites would pick up a portion of his reported £60,000-a-week salary.
It is expected the French side will make a decision in the next few days, but Klasnic is understood to have told his club that he wants to return to the Premier League, where he scored eight goals last season.
Owen Coyle has been desperate to add another striker to his ranks, and had previously investigated deals for Chelsea’s Fabio Di Santo, Liverpool’s David N’Gog and Portsmouth’s David Nugent.
The link with Klasnic has simmered for much of the summer, but with time starting to run out before the close of the transfer window the Wanderers boss has urged his chairman to get a definitive answer.
“I have said all along that if we can get something sorted financially with Ivan, then I would love to have him back at the football club,” he said.“But finance does play a part – and without getting into the bits and pieces, he’s on a fantastic contract at his club. That’s the only thing standing in our way, nothing else.
“I think Ivan is a top class player who will score goals in my team. But if it’s too rich for the football club, it’s too rich.”
Nantes had touted Klasnic’s name round a host of Premier League and European clubs earlier in the summer to try and get his wage off their books.
The club was relegated to the second tier last season and failed to get promotion, leaving their finances in a precarious state. It is not thought, however, that a move for Klasnic will impact upon the club’s chase for Real Madrid youngster Rodrigo, who will decide between a move to Wanderers or Benfica on completing the European Under-19 Championships final with Spain after the weekend.
Meanwhile, Coyle has revealed that Jlloyd Samuel’s much-mooted transfer to Newcastle United has reached an impasse.
The full-back, who could find himself third-choice behind Paul Robinson and Marcos Alonso when the season starts, has been strongly linked with a move to St James’ Park.
The trail has run cold in recent weeks, however, and the Whites boss does not know whether Newcastle will revive their interest.
“I had a conversation with Chris Hughton at the time because the player’s name had been mentioned without anyone having any dialogue with me, and he said that Jlloyd was on his list – he didn’t mention whether that was at the top, middle or bottom.
“I informed Jlloyd but it hasn’t moved on from there.”
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