Kewell yet to confirm Victory stay

Melbourne Victory face a new round of negotiations with Socceroo Harry Kewell as other A-League clubs circle for his signature.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Kewell has decided to take an opt-out clause in the incentive-based three-year contract he signed with Victory after the club’s dismal campaign last season meant his earnings did not match expectations.

Kewell’s manager James Erskine said the 33-year-old hoped to stay with Victory especially as the team is now managed by dual A-League championship-winning coach Ange Postecoglou, but the marquee player was hoping for a more standard contract.

“There’s no agreement as such at the moment, the last one was terminated so now it’s as if we’re starting again,” Erskine told the Daily Telegraph.

“We haven’t seriously gone out to speak to any other clubs for now, and Harry’s preference is to stay in Melbourne, but that all depends on what we can agree with Victory.”

Kewell is not the only big-name Socceroo without a contract ahead of Australia’s World Cup qualifiers with Oman and Japan as Aussie captain Lucas Neill will also find himself a free agent at the end of June when his contract with UAE Pro-League outfit Al-Jazira expires.

It has been reported that 34-year-old Neill is on the radar of the A-League’s new Western Sydney club, but the former Blackburn and West Ham defender intends to stay in Asia.

Neill’s management refused to comment on the speculation.

“My sole focus is on the Socceroos and getting off to a good start on the road to Brazil,” Neill said in a media statement also published in the Daily Telegraph.

“I will address my club situation at the end of June if and when my club contract expires.”