Hamburg fail in De Guzman swoop

Hamburg SV have ruled out a swoop for Villarreal midfielder Jonathan De Guzman because they cannot afford the player's price tag.

The German Bundesliga side have already missed out on signing Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt due to finances and switched their attentions to De Guzman. But sporting director Frank Arnesen confirmed that Villarreal want back the money which they paid out for the player last summer following their relegation from the Spanish La Liga at the end of the season. He told Hamburger Morgenpost: "He costs too much money. Villarreal paid €8 million for him one year ago. Now they want to get as much in order to sell."