Al Fayed angered by Hodgson's approach for
Konchesky
Paul Konchesky has been offered a new contract by
Fulham to keep him out of the clutches of
Liverpool, who are preparing a £3 million bid for the
left-back.
Fulham are understood to be furious about Hodgson’s
interest in Konchesky and relations between Al Fayed and the
Liverpool boss have sunk to a new low.
Mark Hughes is an admirer of Konchesky and has
sanctioned the club’s move to offer a new deal to the former West
Ham defender, who moved to Craven Cottage for £3m in the summer of
2007.
Fulham sources say the 29-year-old, who has a year left
on his current deal, has been in talks with the club for a number
of weeks and are willing to make him one of the highest earners in
the squad. Fulham’s best-paid player is on £40,000-a-week.
Liverpool have not yet made an official approach for
Konchesky but Fulham are well aware of the Merseysiders’ interest
and they will strongly resist a move before the end of the transfer
window.
It is understood that when Hodgson told Al
Fayed he wanted to leave Fulham last month that the pair shook
hands on an agreement that he would not return to Craven Cottage to
buy his former players. Liverpool have also been linked with moves
for Craven Cottage pair Brede Hangeland and Danny Murphy, although
they have not pursued the pair.
But Hodgson’s relationship with his former employer has
deteriorated following his departure from west London.
Al Fayed made a series of unprompted attacks on Hodgson
earlier this month on the day Hughes was unveiled as the new Fulham
manager.
“This other guy [Hodgson] let us down and just walked
away. But we have a nice guy now. He’s better looking, too,” Al
Fayed said.
Only once referring to the man who took Fulham to the
Europa League final by name, Al Fayed said of his former employee:
“This guy, we put him where he is now and he took advantage.”
Hodgson responded by saying he was “disappointed” by
the Fulham owner’s comments.
