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West Ham were initially linked with Ferguson, and it is understood that a number of Premier League clubs have also enquired about his availability.
Should he go to Germany, he would be managed by Xabi Alonso. They are defending their first Bundesliga title and are currently second, behind leaders Bayern Munich by six points.
Alonso has confirmed that Leverkusen are selling striker Victor Boniface, 24, who is expected to move to play for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in a move expected to be worth more than €50 million.
Boniface arrived in Leverkusen from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise 18 months ago for €20 million.
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He has scored 29 goals and laid on 11 assists in 49 matches for the club, but has not played since picking up a hamstring injury on international duty in November.
The Nigeria striker missed training ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Sparta Prague.
“There are discussions with the club and we need to wait. We’re preparing without Boni,” Alonso told reporters Tuesday.
“We will see. We need to wait a bit more but our preparation is with the rest of our squad who are ready and fit and in good shape at the moment.
“It’s the last Champions League game and that’s our focus.”
Alonso revealed Leverkusen were “getting close” to signing more players during the winter window and added: “I’m very satisfied with the squad and with our quality… and will be (at the end of the window).”
Written by Declan Bogue and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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@Pete Murray: Yes, FG are pro jobs, but so too are FF. Sinn Fein is against international investment, and there will be negative job and corporation tax income consequences in the medium-term if elected.
@Cormac Carroll: lol they paid 20 billion in tax XD. Stop with the communist view point that multinationals don’t pay tax. Only for these companies Ireland would be among your poorest EU countries.
The Irish government won’t invest properly in home-grown Irish tech start-ups. Enterprise Ireland is a basket case of corruption and red tape, and the Country Enterprise Boards (in particular, Kildare County Enterprise Board) are a barrier to entrepreneurs and true innovation. In other EU countries, safeguards and mechanisms are in place to ensure that innovation and invention are fostered, mechanics that prevent the fund managers from favouritism. Some of the shoot that gets funded is laughable, while cutting edge innovators have to leave the island to get funding. Irish industry suffers, job exporting is nourished, and tax is lost. Never blame our successful entrepreneurs for going overseas.
@Machine Learning IRE: The Irish government is trying to attract overseas successful businesses with taxation giveaways instead of building on and nourturing our own talent.
@Machine Learning IRE: We’ve always been a fan of ‘franchise over local’. It has largely worked but if we see another bust moment we will not have capitalised on it, in terms of infrastructure, lean times are going to continue and the constant marketplace volatility is now normal.
@mark sheehan: eh that’s not strictly speaking the accurate facts either –the ruling was that Ireland had undercharged apple 13bn in corporation taxes and they paid the money into escrow while the case grinds away – specifically instead of charging 12% there was an agreement to only charge something favourable like 1.5% – of course if this gets resolved and the 13bn does accrue to Ireland as mandated – there is the possibility that some of the other eu countries ask to backdate and stake a claim to some of that – but that’s actually not a sure thing or an easy thing to do based on the agreements in place at the time – so it might not suit your narrative but actually the 13bn is due to Ireland as the rulings stand at the moment.
@Cormac Carroll: it’s important when having a rant Cormac that you ignore the taxes into the Exchequer from employing so many people here, and the knock benefits to the local economies. Those points should never get in the way of a good, blinkered rant
@Cormac Carroll: I’d politely suggest you revisit your understanding of the Apple tax that they are “due to pay us”. That clanger after saying multinationals don’t pay tax here too.
SMH.
@Cormac Carroll: Comedians like you and probably your sf heroes are the reason Ireland will be an economic wasteland within a couple of years of sf getting into power. Hopefully it wont happen for many years yet!!!
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