Iron reject second Duffy bid

Iron reject second Duffy bid

Published Jun. 24, 2013 3:16 p.m. ET

Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Axel Witsel admits a move to Paris Saint-Germain would be impossible to turn down, after being linked with the Ligue 1 champions.

The Belgium international has been linked with PSG - with reports in France suggesting the Argentine striker Ezequiel Lavezzi could move the other way in part-exchange.

"For now my mind is 100 per cent focused on Zenit," Witsel told Belgian daily Sudinfo.

"PSG are one of the clubs who no player could be indifferent to. You could not refuse that."

ADVERTISEMENT

Laurent Blanc is set to replace Carlo Ancelotti as PSG coach and Witsel is in the dark as to whether the former Bordeaux and France coach would be interested in signing him.

"Does Laurent Blanc like me? I do not know anything," he said. "All I know of him is his sporting career.

"In football, everything can happen quickly. But I cannot say any more about it, because I do not hold any of the cards."

Witsel, 24, scored four times in 19 appearances for Zenit last season following a big-money move from Portuguese side Benfica.

The French right-back becomes Crewe's second signing of the summer following the arrival of the Lincoln forward Vadaine Oliver earlier this month.

The 26-year-old has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the option of another 12 months.

Audel began his career in his homeland as a junior with his hometown club Nice and later went on to play for FC Istres and Auxerre before moving to Italy where he had spells with Triestina, San Marino (on loan) and AC Pisa.

He also had a short stint with Slovenian club MNK Izola before moving to Macclesfield in January 2013.

Audel, who has also operated as a centre-back during his career, made 20 appearances for the Silkmen last season, scoring his only senior goal in a 2-1 win over Alfreton in February.

The Iron revealed last week that they had received an offer from Rovers for the 27-year-old, who has 12 months remaining on his contract at Glanford Park.

Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws said the bid was "way below" his valuation of the player.

Doncaster manager Paul Dickov has revealed that he has made another unsuccessful attempt to sign Duffy.

He told reporters at the club's training ground on Rovers' return to pre-season training: "He's a busy player who makes things happen and he has a bit of steel about him as well.

"But we have a valuation of the player and we won't be held to ransom, so that's now on the backburner."

share