FC Seoul Striker Park Close to Joining Monaco
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
FC Seoul striker Park Chu-young is close to joining AS Monaco in the French league.
The 23-year-old flew to France Sunday morning to finalize negotiations with the French side.
If both reach an agreement, Park is expected to have a medical test.
The European football transfer window closes Monday.
``We received an official offer from AS Monaco Saturday night,'' FC Seoul said.
``Although we will lose a franchise star during the season, we will respect a player's decision and fully help him move.''
``The deal has not been finalized, but I am full of expectations,'' Park said before departing for France.
``As Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo played in the Netherlands before moving to the English Premier League (EPL), I will establish a bridgehead in France for the big league move.''
Park's transfer fee is reportedly about 2 million euro ($2.9 million, 3.2 billion won) and they are discussing terms of a contract believed to be between three and four years.
He will be the fourth South Korean footballer to join the French league, Ligue 1, following retired Seo Jung-won (RC Strasbourg), Lee Sang-yoon (FC Lorient), and Ahn Jung-hwan of Busan I'Park (FC Metz).
Monaco wants Park, who has scored 33 goals in 89 appearances since his K-League debut in 2005, to replace forward Jeremy Menez, who left for AS Roma during the off-season.
Last month, Park was reportedly linked to English Premier League side Wigan, but FC Seoul manager Senol Gunes of Turkey denied the reports.
The French football club, founded in 1919, has topped the league seven times and won the French Cup five times, along with being a runner-up in the Champions League Final in 2004.
French strikers Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and German football great Jurgen Klinsmann all played for the team in the 1990s, and now American attacker Freddy Adu, midfielders Diego Perez of Uruguay and Jerko Leko of Croatia play for Brazilian manager Ricardo Gomes.
The team currently ranks 10th in the league this season.