Brisbane is eager to re-sign star striker Sergio van Dijk with the club revealing that the Dutchman’s future will be decided within a fortnight – but the star import is focused simply on leading the Roar to the finals.
Coach Ange Postecoglou was keen to have the league’s second-highest goal-scorer back on his roster next season and said that the club had tabled an offer to van Dijk.
“We’re in the final stages now so I guess we’ll find out quickly enough. As I’ve said all along, we’d like Serge to stay and we’ve put in a good offer,” he said.
“His manager is flying out from Holland next week.”
“I think from a footballing point of view Serge wants to stay, but I think finances will dictate things in the end. We’ll wait and see, but there will be a resolution in the next two weeks.”
With his attention on Saturday night’s clash with Adelaide United, van Dijk was reluctant to give too much away when asked about his plans for next season.
“My agent is coming next week, it’s almost the end of the season, and then we’ll have a talk with the club and do it nice and easy. Then we’ll get an answer in around two weeks from now,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old said he was enjoying the experience of training with his ‘idol’ Patrick Kluivert.
“From my home country, the Netherlands, he’s a big player over there. Him being here is for everyone a chance to show themselves,” van Dijk said.
“I think it’s working out well with him – it’s a good thing that he’s here. I didn’t think that I would ever experience this, getting trained by Patrick Kluivert.”
“He was an idol for me when I was younger; now he’s here and having a chat and having a laugh and of course some serious training as well. It’s a great experience.”
Van Dijk, who deflected the ball into the net to hand the Roar a 1-0 win over Sydney FC, was happy with his squad’s fighting performance on Saturday, but focused on helping the Roar to a finals appearance.
“This season I’ve scored all kinds of goals, shots, tap-ins and I don’t know what you’d call that, a lucky flick or I don’t know,” he said.
“I had a touch, it went in and that’s what I’m there for. Sometimes you need a little bit of luck and I’m happy that I had some.”
“When you win a game, especially against a team like Sydney, you get some confidence. They had their chances, but didn’t finish it off. Winning the game is definitely a confidence boost.”
“The only thing that is good enough for us is winning this game. Hopefully that happens and then the week after we have to win as well, then we’ll see how we end.”
“It’s going to be two tough games, and we’ll have to be fully concentrating and take our chances. We have to be sharp.”
“The main thing is that we do what we have to do, and then hopefully we get the right result.”
