Source: Sport.co.uk

Palermo sporting director Walter Sabatini has offered encouragement to a host of Simon Kjaer’s suitors by suggesting their hands are tied if a big club matches his release clause of £10.3 million. Manchester United, Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Chelsea FC have all been linked with the highly rated centreback but face stiff competition from Serie A giants Juventus and Inter Milan.

The 21-year-old is widely regarded as one of the finest young defenders on the continent and has in the past openly admitted his admiration for Liverpool FC. The player suggested he would love to mirror his international partnership with Daniel Agger at Anfield, but Rafa Benitez’s side face strong opposition from Premier league counterparts Manchester United, Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger is reportedly in the market for a quality centre-half to slot in alongside Thomas Vermaelen, but Roberto Mancini and Carlo Ancelotti’s Italian connections have inevitably seen Manchester City and Chelsea FC linked with the player. Last summer Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Liverpool FC’s Rafa Benitez were the two clubs allegedly vying for the precocious Danish international, but most recently Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Redknapp was interested in the player.

Sabatini suggested Palermo were unfortunately at the mercy of Europe’s biggest clubs because despite their best efforts to have the clause removed, Manchester United, Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC and the other clubs mentioned need only match the £10.3 million in order to talk to the player. That sum is likely to be of great interest to Liverpool FC because of their well documented financial concerns, but the player will not be shy of forthcoming bids should one of the Premier League’s elite clubs open the bidding.

The Palermo chief told Gazetta dello Sport: “Everyone knows Kjaer's situation well.

"The clause has tied our hands together, we tried to increase it, or get rid of it altogether, but his agent rejected it."

"A sale depends on the player."

"If he accepts a top club offer then he will go."

"Or, if he wants, he can stay with Palermo another season to continue his development."