The more I think about it, the less likely from a contractual standpoint for his signing a pre-contract with another club. Looks like it is what it is. An assumption of the duration of his contract and a new contract with on a free transfer in the summer or an extension with Augsburg on higher wages.
I really love to Ji and follow it with perseverance even though I am Italian and he is not very famous here.
Like I said originally. I think Ji would have been more likely to sign with Dortmund if the contract were offered at a legit level rather than most likely something probably closer to his original contract. I figure BVB doesn't really NEED him now (vs next year) and was willing to wait (and I imagine Ji's agent communicated as much that Ji would be available in 6 months)
He had the same good run of games with Celtic. And everyone on BS Korea seemed to think he was the next Steven Gerrard or something. But what happened in the months following that? I see a pattern here. Ki is playing better now and finally getting into shape because Hong has gotten into his skin. He probably reminded him that he would probably not even be included if he didn't get himself fit, especially in light of his past transgressions and divisive influence. Speaking of Hong, he's never achieved any success as a manager at any level without his trusty foreign conditioning coach. He knows its extremely important to have expertise in that area. I willing to wager that Ikeda is earning a very good income as now it is the third or fourth time that he's been called to work with Hong. He's probably keeping a close eye on the fitness of Ki especially.
I haven't ruled out gentleman's agreement between Ji & Dortmund yet and in some ways, i'm okay with 6 month contract. FCA is a surprise this yr but I doubt it will be the same next season. they are going to lose some key players (Hahn being the most obvious one) & i doubt they will be able to replicate this season's form.
And monmouth from Planetswans forum to a Sunderland fan regarding the notion that Ki cannot be recalled:
ok in that case I should get planning on opening a Korean restaurant in Augsburg, since the influx of our players there will continue
I love the fine translation work: ㄴDarran (from www.planetwans.co.uk forum): 이 말을 다시 하고 싶지는 않았는데, 스완지 관계자 두명에게서 들은 얘기야: 중요한 한국인 방문자들과 기성용이 그들과 만나 환영하기로 되어있었어. 근데 그들이 오자 기성용은 그들과 만나지 않은체 옆문으로 사라졌고, 그 한국인들은 많이 실망을 했다. 다음날 라우드럽이 기성용에게 전화를해 도데체 왜, 어디를 간거냐고 물어보니까 라우드럽에게 꺼지라고 했고, 이때문에 라우드럽이 있는한 스완지에는 돌아오지 못할거다. 즉, 기는 너같은 사람들은 x도 생각하고 있지 않다는거야. from a Sunderland board: ZOMBIES 스완지 포럼에 떠도는 루머(거짓말일 가능성 농후)가 하나 있는데, 기가 한국에서온 사업가들을 바람맞혔다고 하더군. 이게 맞는 말인지는 모르겠는데 뭔가가 있긴 있겠지. 기가 지금 여기 임대와 있다는거 자체가 말이 안되는거니까. ㄴHodori 너무 기성용답지 않은 이야기라 믿기 어려워. 그리고 한국 미디어가 이런거에 민감한걸 봤을때 이런일이 일어났다면 기사화 됐을거야. 그리고 이게 만약 사실이라고 해도, 라우드럽이 이미 기성용에게 기용할 마음이 없다는 얘기같은걸 해서 기성용이 마케팅용 선수같은 느낌이 들었다거나 하지 않은 이상 이런 짓을 했을거 같지 않아.
I wonder if the Southampton thing will energize rather than distract Sunderland's opposition given that the manager pledged to stay (at least for the season).
Interestingly, there was one of those so called Augsburg "insiders" on transfermarkt, who claimed in November that Ji would sign for Dortmund in summer and "parked" in Augsburg from January until Summer. When I read the news today, I somehow directly had to think about it. Usually, 99% of this insider stuff is Bullshit, but maybe this guy was legit. Although it still wouldn't make sense. Dortmund could have signed him and loan him out to Augsburg, so maybe the Dortmund interest was limited to last summer.
I still feel like Dortmund interest this month was a Sunderland creation to raise interest. Given the lack of other transactions, however, it still seems like Dortmund could be taking a wait and see approach knowing that Ji will be available in 6 months.
The BILD guy on Skysports News in Germany has just said that they will announce Dortmund's first summer signing (a striker according to them) tomorrow (tomorrow = in 7 hours). People are suspecting it might be Ji, but BILD didn't go into detail except for the striker part.
Maybe we've got it wrong. Maybe Ji hasn't pre-signed... because they wanted to wait til Ji was a Augsburg player. Far easier I suspect for Dortmund to help Augsburg with a small fee than be held hostage by Sunderland who is looking for a big payday. Augsburg could go in acting all poor.