Rosenborg and Benfica did Tuesday evening negotiate a transfer for Azar Karadas. The lad from Nordfjord, Norway, is likely to cost the Portuguese about ?1.75 million.

Benfica really tok note of the RBK forward during the 3rd round matches of the UEFA cup last winter. Karadas' score at Lerkendal was enough for an RBK victory - tough not for advancement.

Azar Karadas did, with many doubts, prolong his RBK contract with another year this winter. The 22-year old feared that he wouldn't get enough playing time. So far, that fear has been real; after having played much in the spring season, he has warmed the bench during summer as Frode Johnsen has regained his old shape. The player himself is positive to a change of clubs if that should happen.

This winter, Tore Andre Flo's club Siena placed a bid of ?1.15 million, but RBK declined at once since the Italians offered a complex downpayment deal - and little cash up front. There seems to be a greater chance that Benfica and RBK will reach an agreement. According to agent and cousin Jack Karadas, English, French and Turkish top league clubs has shown interest.

Yesterday started with Rune Bratseth receiving a call from an Italian agent that claimed to act on behalf of the big Portuguese club. The RBK Sports Director did however give a clear reply saying he only wanted to talk directly to a Benfica official. Later in the afternoon, Benfica administrator Jose Vega then called, giving a clear signal that they want to strengthen their team with Karadas.

Azar Karadas is supposedly first choice of the new coach - the not unfamiliar Giovanni Trapattoni, and as opposed to the time when Benfica wanted to buy Sigurd Rushfeldt in 1999, the club now has the money as they sold EM star Tiago to Chelsea for ?14.3 million recently.


ESTADIO DA LUZ: The arena of the EC Finals can be the new home ground of Azar Karadas.

It is rumoured that Benfica first made an offer of ?1.5 million. Rosenborg responded with a counter demand of ?2 million. It is expected that the parties will meet somewhere between these sums, possibly around ?1.75 million.

"I take this calmly. I will be noted if anything happens, but so far I haven't heard anything," Azar Karadas said to the Sports News of Norwegian broadcaster TV2 Tuesday evening. What more is, it is by no means certain that the player wants to go. "Benfica is a great club, so it is definitely interesting. But I need to know why they will get me, and how Benfica plans to use me. I want to play football, that is the most important thing here," Karadas is quoted in local Trondheim newspaper Adresseavisa.

Benfica are in a hurry, tough: players to be used in the 3rd qualifying round for the Champions League must be reported within Thursday at midnight. At the same time, they cannot have participated in the previous rounds. This means that Azar Karadas will not join the RBK squad for tonight's game versus Sheriff Tiraspol.