Hiddink's agent plays down Chelsea talk

Hiddink's agent plays down Chelsea talk

Guus Hiddink's agent has said his client is still "very happy" in his current position as Turkey manager despite reports that he is edging closer to a return to Chelsea.

Reports yesterday suggested the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) were resigned to losing Hiddink, who is thought to be top of Chelsea's list of candidates to replace Carlo Ancelotti. Sections of the Turkish media aimed their anger at Hiddink for failing to commit his future to the country before Friday's UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier with Belgium.

Hiddink's agent, Cees van Nieuwenhuizen insists, however, the former Real Madrid coach is happy at Turkey and is not looking to leave. "He is very happy with the draw in Brussels because he is still in the race for the European Championships," Van Nieuwenhuizen said.

"Nothing has changed. I have said it before, Guus is under contract with Turkey. He has an obligation there until his contract is up in June next year. We have been saying that for weeks. Everyone is making their own stories about his future, but this is the reality."

The TFF will be hoping the rumours linking Hiddink with a return to Chelsea, where he had a caretaker spell in 2009, will fade over the next couple of weeks if they want to keep their man. Any chance of negotiations opening between the two clubs this week were played down by the federation yesterday.
Nothing has changed. I have said it before, Guus is under contract with Turkey. He has an obligation there until his contract is up in June next year.
Guus Hiddink's agent, Cees van Nieuwenhuizen

"There is nothing official happening because both parties are away," TFF spokesman Turker Tozar said. "Mr Hiddink is on holiday now and the president is on holiday for a week as well. Nothing can happen at the moment."

Reports that the TFF and Chelsea have already agreed a compensation deal for Hiddink are also wide of the mark, Tozar insisted. "Mr Hiddink is still our manager and he has a contract until 2012," he added.

Mark Hughes and Harry Redknapp have also been linked to the position, with the former keen to take on a high-profile manager's job after leaving Fulham last week. Meanwhile, youngster Gokhan Tore has joined Hamburg.

The 19-year-old winger has signed a three-year deal with the Bundesliga side, following another Stamford Bridge reserve team player, Jacopo Sala, and Michael Mancienne in heading to Hamburg recently. Turkey Ur-21 international Tore, an unused substitute for his country's senior side during Friday's European Championship qualifier against Belgium, joined the Blues in January 2009 from Bayer Leverkusen.

After completing his move, Tore told his new club's official website: "I will do my best for this club - a club with great tradition, located in a great city."

Hamburg sporting director Frank Arnesen, himself a former director of football at Chelsea, said: "Gokhan is a young and extremely talented player, he is also a physically strong player. We must and will give him the necessary time he needs to continue his positive development."