Spurs still keen on Soldado

Spurs still keen on Soldado

Published Jul. 26, 2013 9:16 a.m. ET

Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling has extended his contract by a further two years to tie him to the club until 2017.

Kiessling's previous deal was not due to expire until 2015 but that has not prevented Leverkusen from extending it.

"Stefan Kiessling has become a top performer at Bayer Leverkusen, a leader and the face of the club," Leverkusen chief executive Wolfgang Holzhauser said of the 29-year-old.

"His development since 2006 has been phenomenal. I hope he will finish his career with us."

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Kiessling, the top scorer in last season's Bundesliga, joined Leverkusen from Nurnberg in 2006 and is delighted to have committed further to the Westphalian club.

"I'm really happy," he said. "Bayer is my club and I feel really comfortable here.

"Leverkusen has become my home, where my wife and my children are happy.

"The environment is also perfect for me from a sporting perspective.

"Now I want to make a contribution to make Bayer Leverkusen successful over the coming years."

The Uruguayan forward has hinted that he wants to leave Liverpool this summer, leading to speculation that he might be on his way to a club who could offer him Champions League football.

Arsenal are currently leading the chase for the 26-year-old and lodged a bid of £40m +£1 earlier this week.

But Ayre told a press conference in Thailand, where Liverpool are preparing for a pre-season friendly, that the stance on Suarez had not changed.

"The situation with Luis Suarez remains the same," said Ayre. "It's never been our intention to sell Luis.

"We have received two separate offers from Arsenal and have rejected both."

Liverpool will play the Thai national team on Sunday and Suarez will feature at some point, although he is still short of fitness, having been given time off following the Confederations Cup.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers said: "He's three weeks in schedule behind other players.

"But one thing about Luis is he loves to play the game, he loves training and working. I'm sure at some stage of the game, he will play a part."

Soldado has been strongly linked with a move to White Hart Lane this summer and Villas-Boas acknowledged earlier this week that the Spain international is one of the players he is monitoring.

With only Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe as senior striking options, Villas-Boas is looking to bring in another forward before the transfer window closes.

However, Villas-Boas conceded there has been no progress in recent days and is unsure whether Soldado will be moving to White Hart Lane.

"There is interest in the player, no matter what has happened in the last couple of days," said Villas-Boas.

"We are in conversations, in discussions, but that doesn't mean a deal is going to happen for a player that is a quality player.

"He has done well in Valencia for the last five seasons and had a good education from the Real Madrid school from where he's from.

"He's a player we are interested in having, but I don't have any further developments to give you."

Earlier this week, Valencia president Amadeo Salvo told Tottenham they will have to meet Soldado's €30million (£25.8m) release clause after rejecting an initial for the 28-year-old, who has also been linked with Liverpool.

"Soldado can go if he wants - for €30million and under our conditions," Salvo said at a club press conference.

"Valencia never had any intention of selling Soldado. If he goes then it is because the €30million figure has been met, not a cent less or a cent more.

"The buying club will also have to accept Valencia's conditions of payment also.

"We agreed to meet Tottenham again to discuss the ways of paying and we did that because we understood that his buy-out clause would be met.

"Speaking about ways that deals are paid is normal and this will be done in a way that suits the financial department of Valencia and not that of any other clubs.

"We listened to him and we said what we have always said - that the price is €30m, then the boy himself can decide if he leaves and that the conditions of pay are what they are."

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