Udinese Interested in Lee Young-pyo
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
Udinese became the latest Italian club to be linked to Tottenham defender Lee Young-pyo, according to reports from British news outlets.
The Times newspaper reported that the Serie A team is imminent in making a claiming bid for the 30-year-old left-back. Italian sides AS Roma and Torino are also reportedly in the hunt for Lee.
Lee is currently recovering from a knee ligament injury and is expected to begin training soon. By that time, he could find himself moved to the Serie A.
Lee came close to joining Roma last summer after Spurs snapped up Benoit Assou-Ekotto from Lens as his potential replacement, but the Korean international rejected the transfer at the last moment. Lee reversed directions recently, saying that he would not object to a move to Roma under the right conditions.
Lee had spent two lackluster seasons at White Hart Lane and is now in the doghouse of manager Martin Jol, who once touted the Korean as one of the ``best left-backs in Europe'' when the club brought him from PSV Eindhoven.
His future at Tottenham became uncertain with the club signing 17-year-old Wales phenomenon Gareth Bale, who could double as an attacker and left-back and is drawing praises as the ``next Ryan Giggs.''
With Jol openly identifying the left-flank as the team's weakest link, which fueled the pursuit for Bale, it's clear that Lee now lost the confidence of who was once his biggest supporter and the window of opportunity for him at Tottenham is closing quickly.
Although Lee's pace and skills remain as assets and nobody ever questions his heart on the pitch, the South Korean international is often criticized for his below-average crossing ability and lack of assertiveness on the team's attack.