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Chung-Yong Lee is not walking out on Wanderers – he has been busy walking down the aisle.
The Korean winger married his childhood sweetheart last Saturday in Seoul and will return to training with the Whites at Euxton on Monday.
That news rather flies in the face of persistent rumours linking him with a move elsewhere – the latest destination of choice being Cardiff City.
Dougie Freedman admits he is getting tired with speculation around the 26-year-old midfielder, even though he concedes his contractual situation invites gossip.
Chung-Yong has one year remaining on his current deal – and the Whites boss is taking a realistic view, knowing it is unlikely that a new contract offer can be offered in the club’s current financial situation.
But the Scot has not ruled out that situation changing during the course of the season – where the promise of Premier League football could be enough to convince some of his players to stick around.
“There are four or five of them in that situation,” he said. “In that respect it’s a crucial year – what is the club’s future?
“I’ll always try to advise the board about someone I think can do a job for us now and someone who might do a job further down the line and go from there. But right now, Chungy is certainly a part of what we are trying to do.
“Contracts don’t mean anything on the training ground. Players turn up on Monday morning and I want them at their best.
“If, like Chungy, they have got a year left then we need to look at the business side of it, his ambition, and the club’s ambition.
“If you can marry them together, so to speak, we’ll work it out.
“But if something can’t be worked out, we’ll shake them by the hand and wish them well.”
Asked specifically about Cardiff, Freedman batted away the speculation.
“Nothing has come through me at all – I’m expecting him back at the beginning of next week,” he said.
“He got married last week so hopefully he comes back a happy man.”
Source
The Korean winger married his childhood sweetheart last Saturday in Seoul and will return to training with the Whites at Euxton on Monday.
That news rather flies in the face of persistent rumours linking him with a move elsewhere – the latest destination of choice being Cardiff City.
Dougie Freedman admits he is getting tired with speculation around the 26-year-old midfielder, even though he concedes his contractual situation invites gossip.
Chung-Yong has one year remaining on his current deal – and the Whites boss is taking a realistic view, knowing it is unlikely that a new contract offer can be offered in the club’s current financial situation.
But the Scot has not ruled out that situation changing during the course of the season – where the promise of Premier League football could be enough to convince some of his players to stick around.
“There are four or five of them in that situation,” he said. “In that respect it’s a crucial year – what is the club’s future?
“I’ll always try to advise the board about someone I think can do a job for us now and someone who might do a job further down the line and go from there. But right now, Chungy is certainly a part of what we are trying to do.
“Contracts don’t mean anything on the training ground. Players turn up on Monday morning and I want them at their best.
“If, like Chungy, they have got a year left then we need to look at the business side of it, his ambition, and the club’s ambition.
“If you can marry them together, so to speak, we’ll work it out.
“But if something can’t be worked out, we’ll shake them by the hand and wish them well.”
Asked specifically about Cardiff, Freedman batted away the speculation.
“Nothing has come through me at all – I’m expecting him back at the beginning of next week,” he said.
“He got married last week so hopefully he comes back a happy man.”
Source