Source: Team_Talk
Palermo set sights on Behrami swoop
Palermo's sporting director Walter Sabatini has confirmed the club's interest in signing West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami this summer.[LNB] Palermo could be forced to sell star men Edison Cavani and Simon Kjaer over the summer, but that would at least finance a swoop for Behrami.[LNB]The Switzerland international has previous experience in Italy having played for Genoa, Verona and Lazio before signing a five-year deal with the Hammers in 2008.[LNB]The Premier League club's new owners have said all players except Scott Parker are for sale and they could command a sizeable fee for Behrami, who cost the previous regime £5million.[LNB]The 25-year-old is set to feature for Switzerland at this summer's World Cup but Sabatini is hoping to agree a deal.[LNB]"I like Behrami very much," he told Corriere dello Sport.[LNB]"We are trying to sign take him, even if it is difficult."[LNB]Sabatini admitted Palermo are powerless to prevent Cavani and Kjaer leaving the club as both have buy-out clauses in their contract.[LNB]Cavani has earned a host of admirers after scoring 32 in 107 games for Palermo since the 23-year-old striker was plucked from Uruguay in 2007.[LNB]And Kjaer has been linked with AC Milan, Arsenal and Liverpool in recent months having impressed in the Palermo defence since the 21-year-old moved from Denmark in 2008.[LNB]Both are set to put themselves in the shop window by representing heir country at World Cup, but Kjaer's suitors would have to act before the end of this summer's finals.[LNB]"On Cavani, there is an interest from some clubs but there are no concrete offers," Sabatini told Mediagol.it.[LNB]"In this situation, we are only viewers because his value is given by the buy-out clause in the contract - 25million euros.[LNB]"It's the same for Kjaer. If a club comes and pays his buy-out clause of 12m euros, we can't do anything. But the clause expires on June 30.[LNB]"The possibility of Cavani and Kjaer staying at Palermo doesn't go beyond 50 per cent."[LNB]However, Sabatini confirmed that Argentinian midfielder Javier Pastore, 20, would be staying with the Serie A side for at least another two seasons.
