• European football

Galatasaray open to Sneijder sale

Galatasaray president Unal Aysal has told suitors that Wesley Sneijder would be available for transfer if the club's valuation is met.

Sneijder, 29, joined Gala in the January transfer window and helped them win the Turkish Super Lig and reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Chelsea and Tottenham are reportedly interested in the former Ajax, Real Madrid and Inter Milan midfielder's services and will be encouraged by Aysal's admission that he could be sold, although no firm interest has been registered.

"I have been following the rumours about Sneijder, but we have not received an offer for him," Aysal told Turkish newspaper Sabah.

"If an offer in the region of €15 million (£12.75 million) comes in, we might decide to sell him though."

Meanwhile, after losing the captaincy of the Netherlands to Manchester United's Robin van Persie, Sneijder is intent on recapturing the form that saw him help Oranje to the 2010 World Cup final.

He told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: "It was a pretty painful announcement. Not just because I never saw this coming, but also because I have always given my all in the role as captain.

"I will have to accept this, though. It was a huge blow for me. The coach told me that I should focus on myself for now and use my energy to regain top fitness. I was planning to do that any way, though. I am more eager than ever before.

"I know that I have not shown enough recently and that I will have to step it up a notch. But I am confident that I can reach my level from the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 again."

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