LUTON, England (AP) - England coach Roy Hodgson does not want his players negotiating transfers once they leave for the World Cup as it could distract from the task in Brazil.
Highly-rated Southampton duo Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw have both been linked with moves away from the Premier League club during the summer transfer window. Liverpool is chasing 26-year-old midfielder Lallana, and the 18-year-old defender Shaw is being pursued by Manchester United.
“I am definitely not going to have agents swirling around or (have) this player has got to leave the camp,” Hodgson said. “I would expect the players to understand that … if you have got matters to resolve you do it outside of England time.”
Hodgson wants any deals wrapped up before England flies to Miami on June 1 to play the final World Cup warm-up matches against Ecuador and Honduras. The only compromise Hodgson will make is if a player just needs to take a medical examination while they are in Miami.
“Could Adam Lallana go and do a medical in his free afternoon? I am not going to say you can’t do that,” Hodgson said.
One player whose future appears to be settled is Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who is so determined to finally score at his third World Cup that he is spending this week on holiday in Portugal accompanied by fitness trainers. Rooney was criticized for spending his break before the 2012 European Championship in Las Vegas but is getting to Portugal before the full 23-man squad arrives for a training camp next week.
“Wayne is so determined to be up and running when we get there on the 19th,” Hodgson said. “I’m not as desperate for him to be fully fit on the 19th. I’m thinking more of June 14 (World Cup game against Italy), but it’s still quite laudable that that’s the way he thinks and I’m not trying to dissuade him.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.