Red Bull target Lehmann, reports say
Red Bull Salzburg have set their sights on Arsenal legend Jens Lehmann as keeper Eddie Gustafsson is ruled out for at least six months, it has been reported.Austrian press claimed today (Tues) that officials at the Austrian Bundesliga leaders considered approaching the 40-year-old VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper over a one-year deal.Lehmann however recently made clear the current season would be his last. The former Arsenal star was previously linked with Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and US Mayor Soccer League clubs.Swede Gustafsson underwent surgery after breaking his calf bone and shin bone in a brutal foul by LASK Linz striker Lukas Kragl on Sunday.Club doctor Helmut Klampfer said yesterday: “If all works out fine, Eddie might be able to leave the clinic this weekend.”Klampfer added the 33-year-old keeper could make a comeback on the pitch in around half a year. But he warned that it was impossible to predict whether his comeback will be delayed by complications such as swellings and infections.Bayern Munich keeper Michael Rensing has been named as another candidate to join Red Bull. The 25-year-old was regarded as successor to Oliver Kahn, but lost his starting line-up spot to Hans-Jörg Butt last season.The names of Austrian national team keeper Christian Gratzei from Sturm Graz and Hertha BSC Berlins Czech goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny have also appeared in local press.Meanwhile Red Bull will approach substitute keeper Heinz Arzberger for talks over an extension of his contract which runs out this summer. The 37-year-old planned to retire after the current season, but is now set to stick around.”The situation of Eddie is really tragic and I feel with him. But now Im looking forward to contributing my part in winning the title,” the former Sturm Graz keeper said.Red Bull are six points clear of Rapid Vienna who they face this Friday in the 32nd of 36 rounds.LASK Linz coach Helmut Kraft meanwhile defended his decision not to take Kragl off after his attack against the “Bulls” keeper in Sundays goalless draw. “No one would have benefited. He feels terrible about what had happened too, and it wouldnt have been a good thing for him if he sits in the locker room all on his own for 45 minutes,” Kraft said.The LASK manager revealed he considered putting the 20-year-old who was awarded only a yellow card after the incident in touch with a psychologist. He said: “But we found out he needs to sort that out on his own.”The Bundesliga table after 31 rounds:Red Bull Salzburg, 69 pointsRapid Vienna, 63Austria Vienna, 60Sturm Graz, 52Magna Wiener Neustadt, 40Mattersburg, 37SV Ried, 35LASK Linz, 33Kapfenberg, 26Austria Kärnten, 11