[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sydney FC will strike at Fowler

They rejected Teddy Sheringham because he is too old, so Sydney FC have now set their sights on their most ambitious target to date - out-of-contract Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler.

Sydney chief executive George Perry last night confirmed the 32-year-old striker, once simply known as "God" to Liverpool fans, is the biggest name on the club's shopping list for Version Three of the A-League.

"He's been discussed at board room level and it shows just how determined we are to set the benchmarks in Australian football that we are serious about targeting a player of his calibre," said Perry.

"He's out of the top drawer and though an official approach has not yet been made, it goes without saying that if he did come to Australia it would be a huge signing for us."

Fowler is already making plans for life after Liverpool, the club he has scored 128 goals for in 262 games over two spells.

But his second coming to Anfield has become a slow death for the impish hitman whose fortunes waned the moment he departed Merseyside in 2001 for frustrating spells with Leeds and Manchester City before his homecoming in January, 2006.

He has started just seven games for the Reds this season – making a further 12 appearances off the bench – for a total of seven goals. He came on as substitute, to little effect, in Thursday's 1-0 Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.

"If he's looking for a new challenge and a new frontier then we can offer him that, plus a great lifestyle," added Perry.

"It's obvious we wouldn't be able to pay him the sort of money he's on at Liverpool."

Far from it, with Fowler reportedly earning $70,000 a week and Sydney only able to offer around a third of that figure.

Fowler's main currency is goals, a quality sadly lacking at Sydney since the departure of Dwight Yorke. But the former champions will face competition from the US and the cash-rich Gulf States for Fowler's signature.

A canny businessman, Fowler – who also made 25 appearances for England – was named among the 1000 wealthiest Britons on The Sunday Times Rich List thanks to a property portfolio in excess of $70 million. The thoroughbred finisher also a string of racehorses.

Source: The Daily Telegraph