Poulsen waiting for a free transfer

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Sevilla midfielder Christian Poulsen (28), whose contract expires in 2009, is not planning to leave Sevilla in the summer despite the interest of several European top clubs, including Barcelona (read more here). Poulsen has informed his lawyer and legal representative Jorn Bonnesen about his decision.

Like he did in his former club Schalke 04, the Danish international wants to stay until his contract ends next year and then leave on a free transfer. This puts Poulsen in a better position to negotiate the economic conditions of the new contract with his next club. French champion Olympique Lyon would already have offered to pay the Dane's buyout clause of 10 million euro°, but Poulsen rejected the offer.

Poulsen is convinced that some of the big clubs that are interested now, will still be next year. Although Turkish go-between Bayram Tutmlu, who brought the midfielder to Sevilla, had been talking to different clubs, Poulsen came out to assure during a press conference that Tutumlu is not his agent (read more here). Sevilla has been trying several times to renew and extend the player's contract and to raise the buyout clause, but Poulsen has always made clear he does not want that.

Read more:
Deal with Poulsen
The Poulsen problem
Poulsen deal under lock and key

Read everthing:
The Christian Poulsen transfer story