Ex-Socceroo Robbie Kruse and Brisbane Roar re-open negotiations

Just when it seemed there was no chance of Robbie Kruse returning to Brisbane Roar, the former Socceroos forward is back in talks with his hometown club.

Robbie Kruse is back in talks with Brisbane Roar. Picture: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

Robbie Kruse has re-entered negotiations with Brisbane Roar, who remain intent on bringing the former Socceroos star back to the club where he started his A-League career.

Brisbane’s hopes of signing the ex-Melbourne Victory attacker – who had been training with his hometown club for several weeks – seemed dashed earlier this month after an agreement could not reached.

Insurance was among the complications, with 34-year-old Kruse – who suffered a serious knee injury less than 12 months ago – wanting a contract lasting until the end of next season, while the Roar were seeking to initially only sign him for the rest of the current campaign.

Talks stalled and Kruse stopped training with the Brisbane squad.

However, the former Fortuna Dusseldorf, Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart and Bochum forward was back at Roar training on Thursday and is understood to be close to agreeing to terms with the three-time A-League champions.

“Robbie’s quality has never been questioned,” Roar general manager Ante Kovacevic said.

“We’ve invited him back to train with us again. Nothing has been signed yet … but it’s a possibility.”

Roar milestone man Jay O’Shea – who will make his 100th appearance for Brisbane in all competitions on Friday night when the Queenslanders meet the Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium – urged the club to sign Kruse, who made 75 appearances for the Socceroos from 2011 to 2019.

Roar star Jay O'Shea (centre) will celebrate 100 appearances for Brisbane. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

“Hopefully we can get that one over the line and bring great experience to the squad,” O’Shea said.

“(Kruse is) obviously a former Socceroo and knows where the net is as well.”

The Roar, who also hope to sign a centre-forward during the current transfer window, have scored just 10 goals in 13 matches this season.

“Defensively we’ve been really good, we’re just missing that killer instinct up top. Hopefully we can get a striker in before the window closes, and hopefully that’ll help us get in the finals by the end of the season,” said O’Shea, the Roar’s most creative player.

An A-League All-Star last season, the 34-year-old Irish midfielder has relished life in Queensland since joining the Roar in 2019 after 13 senior seasons of football in Ireland and the UK which included an English Premier League appearance for Birmingham City.

“As soon as I got here and realised how much I liked the place, that was the plan, to stay here as long as possible,” O’Shea said.

“My wife and kids are happy here, so hopefully we’ll settle here after football as well.

“I’ve actually applied for permanent residency now, so hopefully that’ll come through in the next few months, and then we’ll all be (Australian) citizens soon enough, hopefully.”

Brisbane coach Warren Moon said O’Shea had “set the standard on and off the field” at the Roar.

“We’re lucky to have him. He’s an excellent human being and he just happens to be an excellent footballer as well,” Moon said.

Originally published as Ex-Socceroo Robbie Kruse and Brisbane Roar re-open negotiations