Suwon admit ‘huge offer’ would force Taggart sale

New Suwon Bluewings coach Lee Lim-Saeng has conceded the K1 League outfit could face an uphill task to keep Golden Boot Adam Taggart, as clubs in China and Japan circle the Socceroos striker.

With Suwon under budgetary pressure heading into the new season, Taggart - who topped the competition’s scoring charts with 20 goals in his debut year in South Korea - has become a prime target for cashed-up clubs across Asia.

Talking to Korean media, Lee admitted that were a big-money offer be tabled it would be difficult for Suwon to decline, much as the club likes to keep one of their prized possessions.

Taggart is contracted to Suwon until 2022, after signing an extension on the back of his extraordinary performances since arriving from Brisbane.

And Suwon would expect to receive in excess of $4 million were they to let him go.

Lee said that Suwon have yet to receive a concrete offer but added that if a realistic bid arrived, Suwon would be sorely tempted.

“I want Adam to stay at our club because we’re very happy with him,” he said.

“There haven’t been any bids so far but if a huge offer was made to the player and the club, frankly it would be hard to keep him.

“If the pay offer is better than us, then it’s hard for the player to be happy to stay with us.

“We have to be realistic in this type of situation.”

With Suwon having qualified for the AFC Champions League, courtesy of their FA Cup final win, there’s plenty for Taggart to play for as he prepares to join his teammates for a three-week training camp in the United Arab Emirates.

Suwon returns to action on February 12 with an ACL group stage trip to Guangzhou Evergrande.

It’s Lee’s first head coaching role in Korea after previous stints in China and Singapore, and he’ll be hoping the club finds a way to keep their hugely marketable marksman.

A former Suwon player, he has succeeded Seo Jung-won, the man responsible for bringing Taggart to the club nearly a year ago.

Speaking last month, Taggart told The World Game: “I’m just focusing on the future with Suwon and going on to do well with them in ACL and finishing higher up the league than we managed this year (sixth), which was a bit of a disappointment.

“Of course in football, anything can happen and things can change but like I said it’s all about Suwon and what I hope to achieve with them at the moment.

“You always want to better yourself and challenge yourself as a player, and that’s what I’ve been doing since joining Suwon.

“That’s what’s motivating me and I’m not thinking about anything else.”