By Kim Hyun-cheol
Staff reporter
It might be, or probably is, just groundless gossip haunting footballers. But it at least shows that the Korean international is enjoying a gradually radiating fame in the Premier League.
Park Ji-sung of Manchester United was rumored, Thursday, to be up for sale after this season, according to a U.K. tabloid newspaper.
Bayern Munich of Germany, finalists of this year's Champions League, are set to shell out as much as 7 million pounds ($10.6 million) to recruit the midfielder, the Daily Mail reported.
As Manchester United is bracing for a transitional period, the club might feel the urge to sell some of some of its assets to raise funds needed for rebuilding, according to the report.
United are reported to be interested in bringing in some new players in the offseason. Targets include Everton's Steven Pienaar, Valencia's David Silva and Sotiris Ninis of Panathinaikos.
A key figure in the South Korean national team, Park has also played a distinctive role by scoring in some of United's important games. He scored against Arsenal, Liverpool and AC Milan.
His trademark ceaseless movement, however, has been sided with lingering concerns this year as the 29-year-old has to tolerate a flurry of international matches, including the upcoming South Africa World Cup.
Bayern Munich currently tops the Bundesliga with 67 points, three points ahead of FC Schalke 04. Its first-team squad has several German internationals such as Philip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose, as well as a couple of Park's former teammates at PSV Eindhoven, Dutch stars Arjen Robben and Mark van Bommel.
Park is not likely to choose to move by himself. Contracted to United until 2012, Park said earlier this week that he wants to retire in a Manchester United jersey.