By Kang Seung-woo
Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-yueng has become a summer transfer target as clubs from Germany’s Bundesliga are joining European rivals in the queue for the Korea international’s signature.
“It is true that prestigious Bundesliga outfits Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen are interested in Ki. Bremen came to watch Ki in action,” C2 Global said last week in a media interview.
Bremen, four-time league champions, reportedly sent a scout to Korea’s World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Doha on June 9. The German side initially planned to see the friendly against Spain in Switzerland last month, but the 23-year-old was not scheduled to take the pitch.
Leverkusen is known for its interest in Korean footballers.
Local footballing great Cha Bum-Kun and his son Du-ri played for the club which also made offers for Koo Ja-cheol and Ji Dong-won during last year’s Asian Cup in Qatar.
Korean players Son Heung-min of Hamburger SV, Cha Du-ri of Fortuna Dusseldorf and Koo of VfL Wolfsburg, who has recently agreed to a new one-year loan spell with FC Augsburg, all play in Germany.
As of Sunday, Ki, whose current contract expires in January 2014, has been on the radar of several European clubs.
The Hoops has recently turned down a 6 million pound offer from Russian outfit Rubin Kazan and English Premier League clubs Liverpool and Queens Park Rangers are reportedly interested in landing the central midfielder. He has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn Rovers, as well.
Playing time seems to be Ki’s priority in any decision to move teams.
“It is most important that I can play on a regular basis. If I am guaranteed regular playing time, it does not matter where I play,” he said last month on his return to Korea.
“Although it may not be a big league, I will evolve if I can be on the pitch.”
Ki, dubbed a “poor man’s version of Steven Gerrard,” is praised for his expansive passing range and is considered a threat from long range.
The midfielder joined the Scottish side in August 2009 and appeared in 30 league matches in which he recorded six goals and as many assists in the team’s championship run this past season.
He has played for the national team 47 times since winning his first cap in September 2008 and will represent Korea with the Under-23 squad at the London Olympics.