Story by CHRIS MUSUMBA
Harambee Stars and Helsingborgs midfielder McDonald Mariga has had the strongest indication yet that he is headed for a bigger league next season. A report on the Skysports website says Mariga’s Sweedish first division club Helsingborgs last week turned down Sh224.4 million (£1.7million) bid from English Premier League side Portsmouth for the Kenya international.
Harry Redknapp the Portsmouth coach has already been busy in the transfer market this summer but is looking to bring in more reinforcements before the start of the new season.
Reports in a top Swedish paper Sportbladet say Mariga is on the verge of quitting the Swedish premier league leaders for better deals in England.
Mariga’s agent Patrik Mork says is aware of Pompey’s interest in the player, but insists the former Tusker player has also attracted attention from several other clubs.
“There has been talk about Portsmouth,” Mork told Sportbladet, “But there are many clubs who have asked about his price. Seven or eight clubs are very interested.”
Helsingborgs director Paul Myllenberg has refused to confirm whether an offer has been rejected.
“I can’t talk about that, but he is much in demand,” Myllenberg was quoted saying.
Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands), Lille (France) and CSKA Moscow (Russia) are among the other clubs reportedly interested in Mariga. The Kenyan midfielder has been in Sweden for two seasons and has impressed many. He was instrumental in Harambee Stars campaign in the Africa cup of Nations despite the national team performing badly. He scored in Kenya’s home win against Swaziland in March.
At Helsingborgs, Mariga plays alongside Sweden’s former international Henrik Larsson who has also played for Manchester United, Barcelona, Celtic
A report posted last month on Ajax’s website said coach Henk at Cate and scout John Stone Olsen were at Helsingborgs to among other things, watch Mariga play.
However, the coach refused to confirm if he will be signing Mariga. Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported that Ajax are ready to pay Sh506 million (Euro 5.5 million) for the Kenyan international. Mariga is rated higher at Helsingborgs. However, at Cate said that he was in Sweden to meet his former friend Henrik Larsson whom he knew while they were at Barcelona.
Reports in England suggest that Harry Redknapp has turned to Portsmouth owner Alexandre Gaydamak for more transfer funds ahead of what he expects to be “the toughest Premier League ever”.
After committing a reported Sh924 million (£7million) to make Ghana ace Sulley Muntari the club’s new record signing, manager Redknapp admits he is banking on Fratton Park supremo Gaydamak to keep spending during the transfer window.
But Redknapp, who has already recruited three new stars for next season’s Premiership campaign and has pledged to bring in at least three more. Portsmouth are looking forward to improve on last season’s ninth-place finish.
They missed out on what would have been their maiden UEFA Cup place by just two points on the final day of the season when they drew 1-1 with Arsenal. It was still Pompey’s best top-flight finish for 52 years.
Copyright: Daily Nation
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