April 16, 2015 16:25:29 UK
He’s the highest-paid player in the A-League, but Sydney FC believe Marc Janko has justified his wages and want him to stay with the club for next season.
The Austrian captain is set to finish his debut campaign with the Sky Blues as the Golden Boot winner. Janko’s 16 goals have put him three clear of Wellington Phoenix’s Nathan Burns, with just two games left of the regular season.
The striker is the only player in the A-League earning more than $1million per season, and Sydney have formally tabled an offer of $1.4million to keep him as their marquee player for 2015-16.
We’re negotiating an extension with his agency in Europe to see if we can sort something out as quick as we can.
Graham Arnold.
The 31-year-old is sure to attract lucrative offers from clubs in Europe and the Middle East as he prepares to come out of contract at the end of this season.
Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold said the board had agreed that keeping Janko, who is set to captain his country in Euro 2016 next year, was their priority.
“We’ve offered him the same contract that he’s on this year and we’re negotiating an extension with his agency in Europe to see if we can sort something out as quick as we can,” said Arnold.
“Marc has performed well, he’s obviously doing well with the Austrian national team, he’s scored 16 goals in 21 games for us and he’s a priority for us to keep.”
The Sky Blues, who are 1.44 to win Friday’s clash with Newcastle Jets, have so far only signed up one of their five non-visa players – defender Nikola Petkovic – for next season.
Arnold says he is keen for Senegalese cousins Jacques Faty and Mickael Tavares, who arrived on injury-replacement contracts, to stay on.
Midfielder Milos Dimitrijevic is another player Sydney are keen to retain, with Arnold saying of the 31-year-old Serbian: “He was pretty disenchanted with football for a while in Europe and I’d like to think Sydney FC has provided an environment where he’s been able to rediscover his love for the game.”
Sydney are 3.60 to beat Newcastle Jets by a one-goal margin.
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