Hugo Almeida denies Besiktas talks, Elia to leave Hamburg
Hugo Almeida denies holding talks with Besiktas
Werder Bremen striker Hugo Almeida has denied claims that he has held transfer talks with Turkish side Besiktas.
The Turkish club announced on their website that talks of a possible transfer have been held with the Portugal international, in order to lure Almeida to the club in the January transfer window.
But the striker has denied claims by the Istanbul side, and says that people are making up stories, calling the negotiation rumours as mere speculation.
The Portuguese striker says that he respects Besiktas as a great club, but denies that he held talks with club representatives to make a switch to Turkey. The 26-year-old’s contract with German side Bremen runs until the summer of 2011, and he is reportedly
reluctant to sign a new deal with the club.
Many European clubs are also interested in signing the striker with Lazio, Sporting Lisbon, Porto, Real Madrid, Valencia and Besiktas, all rumored to be on the prowl for the strikers’ signature.
Lack of first team football may prompt Elia to leave Hamburg
In another report, emerging Dutch midfielder Eljero Elia might leave German side Hamburger SV in the January transfer window.
The highly-rated winger joined the German outfit in the summer of 2009, and quickly became a key part in the Hamburg first team, but Coach Armin Veh isn’t very impressed with the Dutchman.
Elia has only played nine times in the Bundesliga so far, and has just one goal to his name. This could see the tricky winger make a move during the January transfer window in order to get more first team opportunities.
Italian giants, Juventus and German side Werder Bremen are already monitoring the Dutchman’s situation at the club, and will probably be in the market for the winger.
Elia has a contract that runs through until the summer of 2014, and an offer of somewhere around £12 million might prompt Hamburg to let go of the winger, who is clearly frustrated by his lack of first team opportunities.
The Netherlands international joined Hamburg from Dutch Eredivisie outfit FC Twente in the summer of 2009.
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