60 pounds for ribery

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Bayern stand firm over £60m valuation of Ribery
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent

November 11, 2009
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Chelsea and Manchester City have been shocked to discover that Bayern Munich are still holding out for nearly £60 million for unhappy French winger Franck Ribery.


AndreasRentz/GettyImages

Uli Hoeness displays Bayern's determination to hold on to Ribery. For the time being.

The two big-spending Premier League clubs are waiting for Bayern to drop their asking price as the midfielder's contract winds down, and they are also behind Real Madrid in the player's wishlist of clubs.

ESPN Soccernet's 'insider' with close connections to the movers and shakers at Eastlands and Stamford Bridge said: "Bayern want 70 million euros, and that is unrealistic. In any case, the player retains his desire to play in Spain rather than England. His head has been turned by Real Madrid's interest and he is still waiting to see if they will buy him.

"I have got to say he doesn't want to go to England, and it's far too early to say what Real Madrid might do - whether they will have the cash after spending so much on Kaka and Ronaldo. If nothing happens with Real then perhaps Ribery will change his mind.

"If he does change his mind about England then he won't go to Manchester City, because Chelsea offers him the best option in terms of potential achievement, so the door could be open at Chelsea, depending on what they decide to do in the transfer market."

The struggling Bundesliga giants are disappointed with the 26-year-old Ribery's form this season and could accept less for a player they valued at £80 million in the summer, although they would still want a hefty price for a player considered to be one of the best in the world.

Ribery is said to have a poor relationship with coach Louis van Gaal and has shown earlier in his career that his behind-the-scenes problems can affect his form.

However, his contract ends in June 2011, meaning that, next summer, Bayern will be unable to command the kind of fee they have been looking for and, as Ribery declines any new deal on the table, the price will drop to one that will encourage Chelsea to make a good enough offer to tempt Bayern.

Manchester City will match Chelsea, and even surpass any transfer fee and wages. City are even prepared to meet Bayern's valuation and pay the player a record £200,000-a-week in wages, while manager Mark Hughes watched Bayern lose against Bordeaux in the Champions League last week.

For the moment, though, Real are leading the pack and both English clubs will face a tough test to persuade the Frenchman that his future lies in the Premier League.