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"I LIKE PLAYING HERE"

Peguero not interested in transfer; MLS still is

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Mo Johnston said he doesn?t want to let him go and Jean Philippe Peguero said he wants to play here (NYRed Bull). But that might not stop Major League Soccer from sending the Haitian forward to Norway.

The league nixed two offers from European clubs for the explosive striker, sourced told BigAppleSoccer.com earlier in the week. But a third club, Molde F.K. of Norway?s Tippeligaen, is very much in the fold for Peguero and the transfer fee is in the neighborhood of $800,000, according to Johnston.

But that doesn?t mean the Red Bulls first-year coach is willing to let Peguero go without a fight. He said he?s spoken to Red Bull New York managing director Marc de Grandpre about extending Peguero?s contract, which currently pays him a reported $70,000 through 2008.

?He?s looking into it,? Johnston said of de Grandpre. ?I?ve spoken to [Peguero?s] agent and he?s a quality player. There?s going to be a lot of interest in him.?

He added: ?There?s nothing much I can really do. My hands are a little bit tied but yes, I?d like to get him on a new contract and keep him here.?

Unfortunately for the Red Bulls, it appears Molde F.K. is very interested in Peguero, who has scored eight goals, including two in a friendly against German Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich. Molde recently sold Canadian Rob Friend to SC Heerenveen, home of former MetroStars midfielder Michael Bradley. The Norwegian league?s season runs parallel to MLS, from April to October and Molde currently sits in seventh of the 14-team table with 14 points out of 11 games.

?I think Peguero is a better player than him,? Johnston said of Friend. ?They?ve been watching him the past month and I guess they like what they see -- especially against Bayern Munich.?

But Peguero, whose flair, unpredictability and ability to put the ball in the net have made him a fan favorite, said he has no interest in leaving New York or MLS.

?I?m not looking at other options right now, I?m just focused right now on getting this team on top and getting ready for the playoffs,? he said. ?I do like playing here.?

However, in the unique single-entity system of MLS, it is the league, not the club or the player, who has the final say in transfer issues. With Molde in the middle of their season, the club is likely looking to move quickly. And if the offer gets close to the $1 million range, Johnston is expecting Peguero to leave and he says he already has a contingency plan in place -- although that would have to wait until the August transfer window.

One player Johnston is still very much interested in is Jacek Bak, a starting centerback on Poland?s World Cup team. The 33-year old, who last played for Al-Rayyan in Qatar, has expressed interest in playing in America.

Although it appeared his price tag -- Bak reportedly made $1.2 million last year -- was too high, Johnston said he can make room for Bak by juggling the roster to fit the tight salary cap.

?He wants to come,? Johnston said of Bak. ?So far we?re in limbo at the moment. Obviously it?s moving people, as you know the salary caps are tight.?