MUNICH
STAR WANTS REDS
Owen Hargreaves has revealed his desire to leave Bayern Munich
for the Premiership, naming Liverpool and Arsenal as his "dream
destinations".
The 23-year-old midfielder says he is "very open to the change"
being made as early as this summer, two years before his contract
expires, after enduring increasingly strained relations with some
of his Bayern team-mates, notably the captain Oliver Kahn.
"After seven years I'm starting to feel that I want to play
elsewhere," Hargreaves said in an exclusive interview with
the Guardian. "Sometimes you just know when it's time to move
on and take a new step. That time might be now or maybe it will
be after another season. But I'm very excited about the next few
years and thinking where I might end up.
"The Premiership, in particular, is brilliant and the fans
are fantastic and just to be there every week would be a dream for
me. I'd also be very much closer to my family because it's quite
possible that, if I got transferred, my parents might move from
Canada and return to England."
Hargreaves candidly discussed the clubs he would prefer to play
for. "Liverpool, with a new manager, will be looking to strengthen
their squad. With one or two new players they could be a very talented
team. The basis is already there with Stevie Gerrard and Michael
Owen. That would be a great destination for me, and I think I would
fit in really well.
"Arsenal are a wonderful team. I've seen a lot of them this
season and they've definitely been the best team in Europe; it's
just a shame they went out to Chelsea in the Champions League. I'd
love to play for them but I just don't know if they need any new
players."
Hargreaves confirmed that he is primarily motivated by playing
Champions League football for a Premiership club. Such ambition
is understandable from a player who has already won the competition,
in 2001, with Bayern.
"Manchester United are in a bit of transition and Chelsea
have a wad of money to spend on who they want. If I had carte blanche
to choose I would say I'd be a good fit at Liverpool. But I also
feel I'd be a very good fit at Arsenal and even at Man United, for
that matter. Football is a business and that's something you learn
very quickly as a professional."
This time last year Chelsea began an early pursuit of Hargreaves.
"They know I speak to the other England players and it came
about in that way," he said. "So Chelsea was a definite
topic for me to consider. I thought about it very seriously but
decided it wasn't the right time. It all happened a little bit too
quickly. But this summer might well be the right time to make the
move. I'm happy enough here, but I would also like a new challenge."
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