Robbie Fowler wants prospective clubs to promise first-team football
|
Sydney FC have emerged as rivals to Cardiff City in the battle to sign former England veteran Robbie Fowler.
The 32-year-old is a free agent after being released by Liverpool, and sources close to the A-League club claim talks have taken place.
Bluebirds chairman Peter Ridsdale told the Liverpool FC website: "We have offered an attractive package and are hopeful Robbie will decide to come."
Cardiff also face competition from Celtic, Rangers and Leicester.
The Scottish Premier League giants, and their Glasgow rivals Celtic, are understood to have sounded out Fowler about a move north of the border.
But Fowler's adviser George Scott believes Scotland is an unlikely destination for Fowler.
 |
We have got eight offers on the table and Robbie Fowler is considering the lot of them
Robbie Fowler's adviser George Scott
|
"I can't see Rangers or Celtic being an option. They have each got too many strikers on their books and would need to offload a couple first," said Scott.
"The one thing Robbie knows he wants is regular first-team football.
"We have got eight offers on the table and Robbie is considering the lot of them.
"Could it be at Cardiff? Why not? I think Cardiff, if they have the ambition, is the sort of place Robbie would thrive at."
The forward is financially secure, thanks to shrewd property investments, and it is possible he could take a drastic drop in wages from the £50,000 a week he was on at Anfield.
But failing that, Cardiff would either need to shatter their wage structure - which is unlikely given the financial constraints caused by building a new stadium at Leckwith - or put together a huge sponsorship package.
Ridsdale told BBC Sport Wales that he was surprised to hear that comments attributed to him had appeared on Liverpool's website.
"There's been a lot of press speculation, obviously I know Robbie from his days at Leeds and he's an outstanding finisher and outstanding footballer," Ridsdale said.
"Were we ever in a position where we could attract him, I think our supporters would realise our talk of ambition is more than just talk.
"If and when we're in a position to announce the arrival of a player of that stature we will do so, but in the meantime I don't like talking about speculation."
Major League Soccer side New England Revolution are also thought to be courting Fowler, who won 26 caps for England and scored seven goals.
One thing that may count in Cardiff's favour is that Fowler has a young family and may not want to drastically uproot them by moving abroad, far away from friends and family.
He made his Liverpool debut as an 18-year-old in 1993, scoring 171 goals in 330 games before joining Leeds for £11m in 2001 and then Manchester City for £6m in 2003.
Fowler returned for a second spell at Anfield in January 2006, although his starting appearances were limited.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~03~RS~)
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
