A-League's new club western Sydney club would be interested in Lucas Neill if he decides to return home

4 Jun 2012 05:45:00

The Australian top flight's newest franchise have admitted they'd be crazy not to explore the option of signing high-profile pair Lucas Neill and Scott Chipperfield

The executive chairman of the A-League's new western Sydney franchise says the club would be interested in signing high-profile pair Lucas Neill and Scott Chipperfield.

Neill, the current Socceroos skipper at 34-years-old, was released by UAE club Al Jazira last week, prompting speculation he could opt to return to Australia.

The western Sydney's club executive chairman Lyall Gorman said he'd only just heard the news but would be silly if he didn't explore the option despite talk Neill's asking price might be too high for A-League clubs.

"The news that Lucas is off-contract has just crossed my desk," Gorman told Fox Sports. "There wouldn't be a club official in the A-League who wouldn't be interested in securing Lucas's services should he decide the time was right for him to come home.

"He's shown as captain of the Socceroos to be a great leader, but at this stage I've not had any formal talks with Lucas, his management or had the chance to talk with our coach Tony Popovic to gauge his interest in securing Lucas's services."

Gorman also expressed a similar sentiment with veteran former Socceroo Chipperfield, who has finished up with Swiss champions FC Basel after a decade at the club.

"Lucas Neill and Scott Chipperfield are just the sort of building blocks we are looking to put in place as players over the next few weeks and months in building towards a solid foundation at West Sydney," he said.

"They are just the sort of players people instantly recognise and would add value to the brand and culture we want to bring to the A-League table. But they are just two of hundreds of names that have been thrown into the melting pot."

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