Graham Arnold says Sydney FC have had “no concrete offer” for sought-after Alex Gersbach as speculation increases the young left-back is set for a move to Europe.
Reports over the weekend suggest a European club are prepared to a hefty transfer fee to secure the 18-year-old during the January transfer window.
The Olyroos star is off-contract at the end of the season and would be able to leave the Sky Blues for free in June should he not sign a new deal with the club.
“There’s speculation all the time…but we have had no concrete offer,” Arnold said on Monday.
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“Obviously Alex is a kid who has ambition, he doesn’t hide that. He often says that overseas is where he wants to go.
“[But] there’s nothing in writing, there’s no firm offers.
“Whether Alex’s mind has changed now that the Olyroos have failed to qualify for the Olympics…I know he was looking forward to that enormously and being part of that.
“Maybe that was the opportunity for him to stay with Sydney FC.”
Arnold said the club opened negotiations with Gersbach over a new deal two months ago but haven’t made any headway with the player’s agent.
“The most important thing is we’re trying to keep him. We want him to stay here in Sydney,” Arnold said.
“I believe he needs another year here in the A-League. The agents probably don’t but what I have at heart is good for the kid and his career.
“If he does leave it has to be a place where he is going to play and play regularly and not sit and watch because otherwise if he does that he’ll be back in Australia very quickly.
“We [wanted to re-sign Gersbach] two months ago…his agent is very slow.”
Gersbach, who arrived back in Sydney on Monday morning from Olyroos duty, is unlikely to be risked for Sydney’s massive Australia Day clash against Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium.
The Sky Blues will move top of the Hyundai A-League ladder if they win by two goals.
In other transfer speculation, it’s understood James Troisi, Tommy Oar and Michael Thwaite are pondering moves to Chinese Super League clubs.
