Harry Kewell mulling Australian return: report

Posted Sunday, June 05, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

SYDNEY (AFP) - Senior Australian international Harry Kewell is considering an offer to return home and play for A-League club Melbourne Victory, according to reports.

The former Leeds and Liverpool midfielder, 32, is a free agent after his Turkish club Galatasaray released him for next season.

Kewell's manager, Bernie Mandic, informed Football Federation Australia that Kewell was considering an offer from the Victory after meeting with club officials in Melbourne last week, the Sun-Herald said.

"Yes, we did catch up," Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro confirmed to the newspaper.

"We knew he was a free agent and we were keen to talk with Harry to find out what his next move was.

"We want to reward our members with the best available players, who can represent our club in Australia and throughout Asia."

If he signs, the 53-capped international Kewell would become the club's marquee player, which would make him exempt from Victory's Aus$2.35 million ($2.5 million) salary cap.

Reports said Kewell would likely command a deal in excess of Aus$2 million.

Mandic said no deal had been finalised with Victory, the A-League's best-supported club.

"You can add Melbourne Victory to a long list of clubs after Harry, which includes the majority of the A-League," Mandic said.

"We're in no hurry and Harry has said he's not thinking about football for the next couple of weeks."