Janko eyes move to England

SALZBURG, Austria (AP) -- Two years ago, Marc Janko visited Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium as a fan. If Europe's hottest forward gets his wish, he will be returning as a player.

The 25-year-old leads European soccer with 30 goals this season and is likely to leave Austrian league leader Red Bull Salzburg next month.

"There are a lot of great clubs, but I clearly prefer to play in England," Janko said Wednesday, three days after the Austrian league began a two-month winter break. "There are several candidates, but there is no agreement yet."

Janko declined to name any of the clubs he's been talking with, though British media report that Tottenham Hotspur, Middlesbrough and Blackburn are the main contenders to sign the 6-foot, 4-inch forward, whose mother was an Olympic bronze medalist in the javelin.

Janko expects to make a decision on his future in the next couple of weeks.

"I leave all options open for now," Janko said. "But going to England would be my favorite, for sure."

Janko's contract with Salzburg expires in 2011, and he says he and his manager, Georg Stanggassinger, have kept the club informed about negotiations.

"We don't hide anything. We play open cards. I owe that to this club," said Janko, who has been with Salzburg since 2005.

The club will expect to earn a transfer fee of at least $14.3 million, which would make him the most expensive Austrian soccer player.

Janko was born in Vienna, the son of Eva Janko-Egger, who won the 1968 javelin bronze at Mexico City and who still holds the Austrian record at 202 feet.

In his first season with Salzburg, Janko had 11 goals in 17 matches and got his first callup to the national team for an exhibition against Croatia in May 2006.

However, a pelvic injury kept him sidelined for almost the entire 2006-07 campaign. After recovering, he struggled to find his rhythm and was benched in most matches. He scored just five goals last season.

Coach Josef Hickersberger dropped him from the national squad shortly before the start of the European Championship. Janko said he was not frustrated at being overlooked but used it as extra motivation.

He is now the indisputable first-choice striker for Hickersberger's successor, Karel Bruckner.

Salzburg, which lost its domestic league title to Rapid Vienna last season, is reluctant to let its best forward leave in the middle of the season.

"We want to win the championship," Salzburg coach Co Adriaanse said, "so it would be very unlucky if one of our best players was to leave during the winter break."

But Janko is clear about his intentions.

"If the sporting perspective is right, I won't hesitate," he said.

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