Wanderer not headed to Perth
Perth Glory chief executive Jason Brewer has vehemently rejected reports Western Sydney Wanderers star Youssouf Hersi has signed with the WA club for next season.
Hersi, 31, has been in contract limbo for months, with his Wanderers deal due to run out at the end of the season.
Today, he confirmed he had finally put pen to paper on a new contract, but would not reveal the club in question.
Brewer said he remained in regular contact with Hersi’s manager, Dragan Jevtic, who also looks after several Glory players.
Brewer said Glory would be interested in signing Hersi, but denied an agreement had been reached with the Ethiopian-born Dutch winger.
“We certainly haven’t signed him for next season,” Brewer said.
“There’s no doubt he’s a great player that’s had a big impact in the A-League for Western Sydney Wanderers.
“He’s the sort of player that we’d be very keen to look at and we’re firmly aware that he’s off-contract at the end of the season.
“But at the moment my focus is this process in getting the coach on board.
“Clearly we’ve got a few players out there that are no-brainers to sign and in reality Hersi would probably fall into that category at the right price.”
Hersi played a crucial role in Western Sydney’s remarkable inaugural season and has backed up his performances during the current campaign.
He has an existing relationship with Glory winger Sidnei Sciola and played a key role in convincing the Brazilian to come to Australia last year.
In a sign he may be leaving Western Sydney, Hersi today seemed reminiscent in the way he spoke about his time at the club.
“I’ve had a good two years here .... and it's fantastic what this club has achieved and what I've achieved with this club,” Hersi said.
“It’s been something new for me in Australia and I like it, but we’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”
Glory have slipped to last place on the A-League ladder on the back of four straight defeats and meet Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium on Sunday.
