22 Jan 2015

Phoenix open to selling in-form Burns

12:42 pm on 22 January 2015

The Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick says he's open to selling the club's in-form striker Nathan Burns.

Nathan Burns

Nathan Burns Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Burns has scored a league high 10 goals this season, and is reported to be wanted by Chinese football club Shanghai Shenhua.

Australian media has reported the Wellington Phoenix are demanding more than $2 million for Burns.

Merrick said that price tag wasn't accurate, although he admitted a deal could be made.

He would not say which Chinese club had been in contact with the Phoenix, but he said if Burns wanted to leave, he wouldn't stand in his way.

"I think if the [Chinese] club is serious, they'll put on letterhead a serious offer and then the board will make a decision and they'll make a decision in line with what's good for the team and the club and also what's good for the player. I mean we've demonstrated with Jeremy Brockie we do the right thing by the player and the right thing by the club and this club's always been like that. And this idea that we're holding out for over $2 million dollars is absolutely ridiculous."

The Phoenix are in second place in the A-League.

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