Western Sydney marquee signing Shinji Ono says he’s open to a move to another A-League club in the upcoming January transfer window.
The Japanese star is off-contract with the Wanderers at the end of this season and despite expressing a strong interest to stay at the club, has yet to be offered an extension.
Wanderers teammate Youssouf Hersi is in the same situation and both have rival clubs circling to lure them away.
When asked if he’d been approached by other teams interested in securing his signature, Ono did not want to comment.
And while saying he hopes to stay with the reigning premiers, he conceded he would consider other offers.
“I don’t want to comment about this question actually,” the 34-year-old said.
“But if you’re a football player if you know some club offer to me is good I’m very happy.
“But I say I love to stay with Wanderers.”
Ono’s former Japan and Shimizu S-Pulse teammate Naohiro Takahara, also 34, has been linked with a move to the A-League.
The former Boca Juniors, Hamburg, Eintracht Frankfurt, Urawa Red Diamonds, and Suwon Bluewings striker has recaptured some his best form at Tokyo Verdy this year.
But while he’s be a good addition to any club, Ono says talk of a move Down Under was news to Takahara.
“I had contact with Taka two days ago and he didn’t know about any news from here, it was a surprise for him,” he said.
“If he comes for sure, I’d like to see him here”.
bp2
Guest
If all of this had happened at the start of last season, i may have been right in with the Sydney United conspiracy theories (especially as a Sydney Olympic tragic). But i strongly urge all fans to recognise where Poppa and the coaching team started and where we are today. I have absolute faith in whatever decisions they make because quite frankly they have earned it. This is about building a club for the long term. If we want the short sighted approach that doesnt look more that 2 years ahead then we may as well follow that other Sydney team. Plus, there seemed to be nothing specific in the article about other A League clubs approaching Ono, it did say "other clubs" of which there are thousands the world over that would be interested in Ono. Looks like a little poetic licence was taken by the headline writers at The Roar with that comment. As for Hersi, i read the Telerag article last week about that other Sydney team being after Hersi. I am sure that there is nothing more that the clowns at that paper would like than to cause a big ruckus between the fans of the two Sydney teams. A few effectively made up (or at the very least stretched out) lines and all of a sudden the massive Western Sydney & Sydney Support bases start buying the paper to read about the latest developments before they use it for its proper uses (lining the bird cage, garden beds, cleaning windows, wrapping fish etc). They have massive history in doing this to soccer. I remember the massive attacks against the Sydney United fans in the mid 90's. The so called "reporters" at the Telerag used to use their column space purely to incite the anger of the fans, as angry fans mean more will be buying the next instalment. A few days later a token article from one of the fans to "show balance" is published. The the final nail - one of the reporters sits with the fans and writes a report on his time with the often maligned "mob". You can tell its summer when these things come out. It is almost as obligatory as the Telerag articles on the "inner sanctum" of the Australian Cricket team. I honestly cant live without knowing about who the "serial pest" of the team is or what music they listen to. You cant trust them on anything, let alone the inner workings and rumours of the world game.
Arto
Guest
@ AZ_RBB: Not wanting to antagonise or stir the pot too much, but how would it be for the RBB & WSW in general if SFC signed Ono as a replacement for ADP? Obviously you guys wouldn't like it, but are we talking some serious betrayal here? Or do you guys think Ono (& Hersi) has peaked and therefore you'd be better off siging another marquee? As an SFC fan, I have a gut feeling that this is ADP's last season (mostly due to injuries, really) and given that both Carle and Emerton are also off contract after this season, I can see SFC having the cash to splash on either Ono, Hersi or both as they would probably fit seemlessly into SFC (maybe Hersi might ruffle a few feathers as he doesn't come across as the most harmonius team member?).
Franko
Guest
On the topic of A-League transfers* Kwame Yeboah of Brisbane Roar has just signed with Borussia Mgldbch... Hope the lad gets some game time as he wasn't exactly a starter here. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/19/brisbane-roar-kwame-yeboah-borussia-monchengladbach
Peaches
Guest
Isn't the overseas limit 4 players and in the ACL 3+1 (1 being an Asian marquee)?
AZ_RBB
Guest
That one foreign player, went last season. We didn't replace Dino with another foreigner.
Peaches
Guest
I think the club wants to see a bit more from Ono this season. At his age, you're only as good as your last season. In regards to Hersi, something is up there. One foreign player has to go next season and with Poljak already signed, Polenz and La Rocca's being favourites of Popovic, the exciting Hersi whose chasing more money may be let go in order to keep Ono.
AZ_RBB
Guest
A bit harsh considering that he's been out with injury for part of this season. He was very good in some of the early games. How he goes over the next few games will be more telling.
striker
Guest
AZ shinji is good but has failed to deliver consistent performances and i reckon his best years are over for him, i reckon he and Hersi will not be at the club next year.
AZ_RBB
Guest
He is the only player to have a chant dedicated to him at WSW haha. Although we did try an Aaron Mooy chant last weekend.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
It's nice to see Shinji is enjoying his time in Australia
Franko
Guest
Would it be crazy to suggest that Haliti and Santalab both have strong ties to the Baltic region whereas the others listed do not???
AZ_RBB
Guest
Not at all. Didn't even occur to me til you mentioned it. Might even explain to an extent why former Sydney Olympic boy Tarek Elrich was let go of after a fairly decent season. But he is probably making more and getting much more game time now at Adelaide. Beauchamp is also a former Olympic boy...........
Franko
Guest
Haliti and Santalab = Sydney United Ono and Hersi = Imports Crazy theory????
AZ_RBB
Guest
A lot of it often comes down to their demands. Hersi and Ono have almost certainly demanded significantly more money than Haliti. If you think you're puzzled with that. Imagine how puzzled I was when they re-signed Santalab after he did jack all in the first few weeks of his contract. I don't think my theory re money works here either because I'm sure he would be on decent money, considering what he was probably earning in Asia.
Towser
Guest
AZ_RBB WHilst I lay no claim to know your club better than yourself, I find it puzzling that both Ono & Hersi have not been offered extensions whilst Labinot Haliti has. Seems something deeper going on at the Wanderers or am I reading too much into it.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I think Ono will almost certainly stay a little longer. Hersi, I'm not too sure about. But I'm confident we have the young talent to make up for any departures. I've been a little disappointed that neither Perkatis nor Baressi have been given a go this season. Perkatis in particular was excellent in some big games late last season. I'm sure we'll see more of them as the season goes on. Hoping for another win on Monday night. Otherwise we might see Brisbane really run away with it.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Noooooooooo we looooove yoooooooo Shinji and Youssef!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)
Whiskeymac
Guest
Contract shenanigans is all. In saying that at 34 or so the club must have a succession plan already in the event....