Australia

Newcastle Jets Demanding $1 Million From Beijing Guoan For Joel Griffiths

The Australian star won't come cheap for the Super League outfit.

Nov 6, 2009 1:03:57 AM

Joel Griffiths, Beijing Guoan (Courtesy of Entourage Sport)

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Joel Griffiths, Beijing Guoan (Courtesy of Entourage Sport)

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Joel Griffiths

A-League club Newcastle Jets are demanding $1 million from newly crowned Chinese Super League champions Beijing Guoan if they want to turn Joel Griffiths’ loan deal into a permanent one.

The Australia international was integral in the club’s triumph, though the nine goals that he scored were marred by ill-discipline.

Twice he was banned by the league’s disciplinary body, the first time for having been adjudged to elbow a player and the second for having made obscene finger gestures to the crowd.

His latest infringement has seen him slapped with a seven-match ban that at one stage threatened to end his Chinese Super League career, though Guoan are keen to extend the striker’s loan for another season nonetheless – as well as that of his younger brother, Ryan, who was set to join the Gold Coast United.

However, controversial Newcastle owner Con Constantine says the Jets will only sell their player from this point on.

''We made it clear when we loaned him that if they wanted to keep him after this season, they'd have to buy him,'' Constantine told the Sydney Morning Herald.

''If they want to keep him, they have to pay for him. Simple as that. If they don't want to pay the million dollars, then I'd rather have him back.”

He continued: “Let's be honest, the clubs over there don't have a salary cap like we do. They spend maybe $30 million, $40 million, on their squads.

“They're definitely not short of a dollar.

''Joel's gone over there, he's scored nine goals, and his team has won the grand final. What more do they want?

“What he's done has shown the quality he's got, and if that's the case, they have to understand that's worth something.”

Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com

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