June 20, 2008

AUSTRALIA captain Harry Kewell is in talks with Italian powerhouse Roma, as his search for a new club reaches its final stages.

According to reports in the Italian media, which sources in Rome have authenticated, the former Liverpool forward has been in negotiations with Roma for more than a fortnight, with the Serie A giants believed to be weighing up an offer for either Kewell or Manchester United's Louis Saha.

Saha has fallen out of favour at United, after an injury record as bedevilled as Kewell's, but would probably still require a transfer fee whereas Kewell is a free agent.

Contacted on Thursday in Paris, Kewell's manager Bernie Mandic refused to comment on his player's future, beyond saying: "We have a number of high quality options and are continuing our negotiations."

Roma have just signed Liverpool defender John Arne Riise, offering the possibility of re-creating the left-sided combination that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez long planned to deploy.