Lee Discouraged About Europe Move
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
The transfer talks linking South Korean international Lee Chun-soo to English football clubs seem to mirror the Ulsan Tigers striker's recent play on the pitch _ constantly on the attack but producing little more than near misses.
With less than a week before the closure of the transfer window, a frustrated Lee admitted that he had retrieved his hopes about getting another crack at European football.
``The past two months have been a very difficult time for me as if my blood was running dry,'' Lee told reporters Saturday after his Tigers hosted FC Seoul at home.
``Honestly, I don't think I will be going to Europe,'' he said.
Lee's camp had initially discussed with Premiership sides Fulham over a short-term deal, but talks fell through. Fulham had offered Lee a one-year deal worth 100,000 pounds ($ 200,000) far below what the Korean had been expecting.
Lee's agent Kim Min-jae said he remains in talks with two to three European clubs, which he declined to identify, but his star client seems skeptical about chances that he will be packing his boots any time soon.
Kim had remained optimistic even after the Fulham fallout, saying that a Premiership deal was ``imminent'' just in June, but is now in danger of eating his words.
``My agent is working hard as there is not much time left. I just want the time to pass fast, regardless of whether I a deal for Europe or not,'' said Lee.
Korea's disappointing Asian Cup run in July did little to boost Lee's stocks, as the 28-year-old winger failed to score on a team that managed just three goals in six games.
And it clearly doesn't help that Lee, whose game relies much on his athleticism, is currently not on top form with his body taking toll from the grueling double-duty for club and country.
``My bruised knee gives me pain when I walk. My ribs are hurting too. It's just hard to just stand on the ground at this point,'' Lee said.
``As a striker, I want to score many goals but I haven't been able to. It hurts that so many games we should have won are ended in draws, and as an attacker, much of the blame goes on me,'' he said.
Lee is considered one of Korea's best players and is a key plank of the national team where he starts usually as right wing.
He previously played in Europe with Spanish club Real Sociedad after the 2002 World Cup, but failed to impress.
Several Koreans have successfully made the switch to English football, including Park Ji-Sung to Manchester United, Lee Young-Pyo to Tottenham, Seol Ki-Hyeon to Reading and Lee Dong-Guk to Middlesbrough.