[olafgb]

The contract extension with Paul Stalteri (25) until 2005 – a never ending story for Werder GM Klaus Allofs. He set a deadline for the midfielder after the win against Mönchengladbach: either Stalteri accepts until Allofs’ is flying to vacation on Tuesday or Werder thinks about the whole matter anew.

Possible that the poker for the free transfer will last a while. According to kicker-information Schalke 04 is interested in Stalteri. He already played in Werder’s reserves under Schalke Coach Frank Neubarth. The sudden interest also might be the reason why Werder is waiting in vain for a call of Stalteri’s agent. He basically agreed on all essential points with Werder, Stalteri himself is talking since weeks that only small aspects have to be cleared. It even got known that Werder offered a buyout option for 2004.

[Canadian_Supporter]

Thanks for the news...

Keep us updated on the contract talks.

[olafgb]

Topic already done:

Weder Bremen signed a second important player within a month for further seasons. After captain Frank Baumann already extended his contract at the end of November, today also Paul Stalteri signed a new deal until June 30th, 2005.

With that the weeks lasting contract poker for the Canadian national player found an end. This weekend Klaus Allofs demanded a decision of the player who also had offers of Schalke 04 and Aston Villa. Klaus Allofs is satisfied about the outcome of the negotiations: "We are glad that after extending the contract with Frank Baumann a further important player stays in Bremen"

Paul Stalteri is player for the 3rd ranked since 1997. In 70 Bundesliga games he scored four goals for Werder.

[olafgb]

Stalteri’s buyout option is estimated to be about 5M.

[CanuckFan]

Are you saying that his transfer fee would have been 5M Euros?

[olafgb]

No, he has an option in his contract that he can leave in 2004 for 5 M Euro.