Players from world champions France are top of most European clubs
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

Paris, June 26: Players from world champions France are top of most European clubs' shopping lists as the Euro 2000 finals allow the continent's best to showcase their talents in search of big-money contracts.

Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly, previously courting the attention of a host of clubs including Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid, Monaco and Marseille, has prolonged his current contract until 2004, making him 35 when it runs out at Stamford Bridge.

Club teammate Frank Leboeuf, who would likely sell for around 4 million pounds, has courted interest from French club Lyon, although no concrete moves has yet been made.

Meanwhile, international teammate Fabien Barthez has already signed for Manchester United, with Marseille goalkeeper Stephane Porato coming in to replace him with a five-year contract at the Principality club.

French forward Robert Pires, another Marseille player, has yet to decide if his future lies with Real Madrid, who tried to sign him from Metz in 1997, or Arsenal. And forward Sylvain Wiltord -- who is known to harbour hopes of a dream move abroad -- could find his inter-season reverie ending in the French capital with Paris St Germain.

Another `Bleu' likely to be on the move, this time to Juventus, is Monaco's star forward David Trezeguet, who finished second-top of the French league last season on 22 goals behind Lyon's Brazilian, Sonny Anderson (24).

But it is former Paris SG goalkeeper Bernard Lama who could find himself racking up the most air miles if reports of a move to Brazilian clubs Sao Paolo or Corinthians is finalised.

While only at the semi-final stage of Euro 2000, interest is bound to pour in for those players who have featured in the latter stages of the competition -- those who are up for sale, looking for a move or ``surplus to requirements''.

Monaco's Portugese defensive midfielder Costinha, who scored his country's only goal against Romania in their second Group A match (1-0), has already booked a seat for a flight back to Portugal after two seasons in the Principality after signing a contract with Sporting Lisbon.

International teammate Rui Costa, however, is having a slightly harder time trying to break ties with his employers at Fiorentina. The classy midfielder admits that: ``Mentally, I'm no longer part of the club''.

Five seasons, with only one Italian Cup to show for it (1996), have taken their toll and, although contracted to the Italian Serie A side until 2003, a potential sale of $25 million to either Real Madrid or Barcelona might force reluctant Fiorentina to re-consider selling.

Another Portugese offensive midfielder causing tremors in the European transfer market is Barcelona's Luis Figo. Figo has already said he would like to leave the Catalan club, and new Italian champions Lazio seem the likely candidates for his signature.

Portugal striker Joao Pinto had already began looking for new accomodation after he was released by Benfica only days prior to the start of Euro 2000.

However, the player who equalised against England in Portugal's first Group A match was quickly snapped up by Lisbon's other club, Sporting, and might not have to call the removal men after all.

Apart from Spain forward Raul's prolonged contract with Real Madrid -- keeping him at the Santiago-Bernabeu until 2005, that just about sums up the recent deals for Europe's Latin contingent. But what about their northern European opposite numbers?

Holland's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who topped Atletico Madrid's scoring charts on 24 goals last season and was surprisingly left out of Frank Rijkaard's squad for Euro 2000, has signed a five-year deal at Chelsea.

Unsurprising really after the Spanish side were relegated despite finding enough form to win the Spanish Cup. But the big Dutchman's arrival in London may prompt murmurings from Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo.

Bert Konterman, who has played a fringe part in the Oranje's Euro campaign, has left Feyenoord for Glasgow Rangers, while ex-Glasgow Celtic striker and International teammate Pierre van Hooijdonk leaves Vitesse Arnhem for a spell at Benfica.

Euro 96 put the Czech Republic in the spotlight after they reached the final -- only to fall at the last hurdle with a 2-1 golden goal defeat to Germany -- and Karel Poborsky's impressive displays prompted what turned out to be an ill-fated spell with England's Manchester United.

Teammates Vladimir Smicer and Patrik Berger have since arrived and succeeded at Liverpool, but this year has seen little interest in the talented East Europeans.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Radek Bejbl could be a target for English Premiership outfit Sunderland, while his 19-year-old International teammate, midfielder Tomas Rosicky, is sparking interest from French First Division side Strasbourg.

Czech international goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek has recently left Sheffield Wednesday, and he too could join a French side, with Metz already showing an interest in the 32-year-old.

Yugoslavia defender Nisa Saveljic has voiced his desire to leave French club Bordeaux, who could be ready to welcome Romania international midfielder Iulian Filipescu, currently at Spanish side Real Betis.

Filipescu's International teammate, 24-year-old Steaua Bucharest offensive midfielder Laurentiu Rosu, meanwhile, has agreed a two-year deal with Spanish First Division side Numancia.

Euro 2000 co-hosts Belgium do not traditionally have many players in Europe's top leagues, however even before what were some personally-successful displays during the tournament Eindhoven striker Luc Nilis was snapped up by England's Aston Villa.

International teammate, Bruges' Gert Verheyen, is a target for French club Troyes while Verheyen's club teammate Eric de Flandre is a French fancy for Lyon - who have also targeted Denmark international defender Soren Colding, currently at Brondby.

Finally, Turkish football and its protagonists are being recognised for their efforts. Turkish international striker Hakan Sukur, who this year helped Galatasaray to their first ever European trophy (UEFA Cup), makes a return to Italy after agreeing terms with Inter Milan.

International teammate, midfielder Arif Erdem, who scored a four-minute hat-trick against Northern Ireland to fire Turkey into the Euro 2000 finals play-off with the Republic of Ireland, has also spread his wings and has signed with Spanish side Real Sociedad.

Norway international forward John Carew, formerly at Rosenborg, had already agreed terms with last year's Champions League finalists Valencia. But international teammate, midfielder Erik Mykland, has emerged as Norway's, and perhaps the Euro 2000's most-wanted.

Mykland had already signed with Germany's 1860 Munich from Greek club Panathanaikos prior to Euro 2000, but after his two displays against Spain and Yugoslavia -- where he was twice voted `Man of the Match' - offers came pouring into the Bundesliga club, notably from Monaco and an unnamed top Spanish club.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.