Djukic hopeful of keeping Soldado

22 July 2013 21:31

Valencia coach Miroslav Djukic remains optimistic the club can retain the services of star striker Roberto Soldado amid reported interest from Tottenham, but admits there are no guarantees.

Speculation in Spain on Monday suggested Spurs were looking to negotiate a deal for Soldado while Liverpool have also been linked to the Spain international, who scored 24 league goals for Valencia last season.

However, Djukic, who took over as Valencia coach this summer, is hoping the 28-year-old will still be at the Mestalla next season.

Asked if he thought a team would pay Soldado's buy-out clause - reportedly 30million euros (£26million) - Djukic said in the Spanish press: "I don't think so. I think he will continue with us, but nobody can guarantee anything.

"In football as in life, you need to be ready for everything.

"We all want him to stay and we think that he's going to remain but someone could always come in and pay the buy-out clause. That's the danger. For now he's our player and we count on him."

He added: "From the start we've said that Soldado isn't for sale and that the only way he could go is that someone comes in, pays the clause and the player accepts to go."

Source: PA