Tommy Oar is set for a return to Europe after Brisbane Roar agreed to sell the former Socceroo to Cypriot club APOEL FC.
It’s understood Oar will fly out from Brisbane on Monday night for a medical with APOEL, who have triggered Oar’s EUR350,000 ($A514,772) release clause and need only to reach personal terms to secure the 25-year-old for next season.
Cypriot outlet Philenews says the club, coached by Dutchman Mario Been, is “very close” to striking a deal with the left-sided winger, who has another year left on his Brisbane contract but appears highly unlikely to see it out.
Oar spent five fruitful years in Europe playing for Eredivisie side FC Utrecht but returned to the A-League after an ill-fated stint with English Championship club Ipswich Town in 2015-16, citing homesickness.
He was set to become one of Brisbane’s two marquee players for the coming season, along with Brett Holman.
But having failed to reach his peak in his second stint for the Roar the move could provide coach John Aloisi with a handy vacancy as he looks to rebuild his squad following the departures of attacking trio Jamie Maclaren, Thomas Broich and Brandon Borrello.
Oar, capped 34 times for Australia, holds a Spanish passport and would not be counted as a foreigner for APOEL, who see him as an ideal replacement for Greek international Giannis Gianniotas.
Gianniotas was on loan from Olympiacos last season and helped APOEL reach the final 16 of the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history.
APOEL are the reigning Cypriot champions, earning them a second qualifying round berth in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
PAUL buckland
Guest
So tommy has left the roar again it's time for the roar to rebuild with some youth and go in for the long haul but as it is with all sports they want results to quick
TK
Guest
Great. Let's give Holman a pay rise !
Evan Askew
Guest
If only we got something for McLaren as well.
Evan Askew
Guest
I was thinking the same thing.
BES
Roar Rookie
It is indeed excellent news! Nothing particularly against Oar, but he was never in a million years a Marque player. Let's now up the standard of the players we are (I am assuming) frantically combing the planet to find...
Waz
Roar Rookie
It's a good deal for Roar, he blew hot n cold with his form and never quite hit the heights he did before. $520k for Oar, $450k for Borrello and $300k for Petratos means it's been a good year on transfers for the first time in a while.
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
Any chance we can get Broich back as our second marquee now?
Fadida
Guest
Roar have got a good deal. Oar is no marquee, in fact he is just a very limited player. Half a million transfer fee and a high earner off the books
Nemesis
Guest
Nice earner for Brisbane. They got him back for $0. They'll pocket over $1/2 million in Transfer Fee. They already profited from him before when they sold him to Utrecht. APOEL are in the Champions League qualifying round and they've had good runs in the past. In 2011-12 they made the Qtr Finals and were eliminated by Real Madrid.
stu
Guest
Yep, happy with that news.