Steve Corica says contract negotiations are ongoing at Sydney FC as the Sky Blues move to lock down their biggest assets.
Sky Blues boss Corica penned a new two-year deal on Thursday following two-year contract extensions for Milos Ninkovic and Michael Zullo earlier in the week.
Corica is adamant he wants to ‘re-sign as many as possible’ from the squad which clinched the Hyundai A-League Championship last season, the rookie coach’s first year at the helm.
“We still have a few more to go,” he said. “We’re knocking them off but so far we’re going really well recruiting and getting players resigned.
“I want that to continue and make sure we get a similar squad this year because this group of players believe they can do something special.”
MATCH PREVIEW: Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC
MORE: ‘He’s a legend of the club’: Why Sydney FC couldn’t let Ninkovic go
High on the list of players Corica and Sydney will want to retain is in-form English hitman Adam Le Fondre.
Le Fondre, who once scored 12 Premier League goals for Reading in 2012/13, is in the final season of his two-year deal with the Sky Blues.
However, the 33-year-old has a performance-related clause in his contract that would keep him in the Harbour City for a third season should he reach a specified amount of goals.
Le Fondre has tallied 10 goals to his name so far this season and leads the Golden Boot race alongside Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren.
“We’re confident he’ll make that trigger and be at the club next season,” said Sydney FC CEO Danny Townsend.
“His family are happy in Sydney. He’s happy himself and you can see that by the way he’s playing.
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“We’ve put together an amazing group of players and we want to keep them together as long as we can.”
Although Sydney fans should expect player re-signings to be announced in the coming weeks, Corica added that it was highly unlikely the club strengthened in the January transfer window.
The Sky Blues boss said he would put faith in the club’s youth players rather than bolster his squad with reinforcements despite New Year fixture congestion and AFC Champions League commitments, which begin in February.
“I don’t think we need to [sign anyone] really. I’m really happy with where we are and the players that we have got.
“We’ve got a lot of depth in our squad and we’ve got great young players that are desperate to play as well.
“That’s probably the time that they’ll get their opportunity because there’s a busy schedule around the champions league. You’ll see them get their chance.”
The Sky Blues are in action on Saturday when they head to Westpac Stadium to play Wellington Phoenix, with kick-off at 2.45pm AEDT (4.45pm local).
Click here to buy tickets
Saturday, 21 December 2019
Kick-off: 4.45pm local, 2.45pm AEDT
Venue: Westpac Stadium
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
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