Coy Popovic fuels Fornaroli talk

Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic has failed to put to bed speculation the club is looking at an extraordinary swap deal.

Bruno Fornaroli, right, during his last A-League for Melbourne City in round four. Picture: Getty Images

Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic has failed to put to bed speculation the club is looking at an extraordinary swap deal involving his in-form striker Andy Keogh and disgruntled Melbourne City attacker Bruno Fornaroli.

In what would be one of the most remarkable mid-season moves in A-League history, there are reports Glory and City are looking at the swap during the January transfer window.

Popovic had the chance a number of times to quash the talk when quizzed yesterday, but instead fanned the fires when he failed to categorically deny the move is on.

“I thought you guys were going to ask about our winning run or the game against Sydney … there’s always speculation when you have good players involved,” Popovic said. “It happens in football and in transfer windows.”

So is Keogh staying or going?

“That’s just speculation and I am not commenting on speculation coming out of the media,” he said. “We are top of the table so there is no surprise our players are creating interest.”

So, can you rule in or out the possibility of it happening?

“There is nothing to rule in or out.”

Will Andy Keogh be with the club for the rest of the season?

“There is nothing to comment on, nothing to discuss.”

Are you interested in Fornaroli?

“I am interested in Bruno Fornaroli as a good footballer, who wouldn’t? If you are asking me if Bruno is a good player, he is and if you are asking the same about Andy Keogh, he sure is.”

There are interesting byplays revolving around the controversy.

Keogh’s contract finishes at the end of the season and there are suggestions he is concerned about his long-term future at Glory.

The interesting factor is that the Irishman, who has been a prolific goalscorer for the club since joining in 2016, is about to be given permanent residency that would free up a visa spot for the club.

In terms of Fornaroli, he has been out of favour with City coach Warren Joyce. He has been out of the squad since the round-four game against Wellington Phoenix with suggestions he fell out with the boss over fitness issues.

Whether it is good business for Glory to swap a player who is in great form for another who hasn’t played since early November and would need months to get back to some sort of fitness is debatable.

The other issue is that with Glory riding high at the top of the table and the mood at the club as good as it has ever been, the speculation regarding Keogh could be an unwanted distraction ahead of tonight’s game against Sydney FC at HBF Park. Popovic wasn’t buying into that, either.

Glory will be out to end one of the worst winless streaks in A-League history as they look to win their first game against the Sky Blues since February 2016. Sydney have won their past nine against the West Australians.

Glory’s home record against Sydney is almost as bad losing six and having drawn one of their past seven clashes in WA. Perth’s last win at home against the Sky Blues was on November 2, 2013.

Meanwhile, despite the heavy schedule, Sydney FC coach Steve Corica pointed to the possibility he won’t be making any changes to the line-up that beat Central Coast 5-2, despite the fact he has a number of players well into their 30s, including captain Alex Brosque.

There were suggestions Brosque, who scored a hat-trick against the Mariners, might be rested especially in light of the long haul to Perth and with an eye to the Asian Champions League campaign, which kicks off next month.

But, given the importance of this game, Corica will likely start him and then rest him for their game against Adelaide on Sunday.