PIZARRO HAPPY AT WERDER

The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the most prolific scorers in Germany this season, netting 15 goals.

The Peruvian is contracted to Werder until 2003, but has a clause that allows him to leave should any team bid £5 million.

However, Pizarro appears happy at the chance offered to him by Werder and may stay provided his new demands are met.

"I have to be grateful to Werder and I`d like to remain at the club if I am given a good offer," the player declared.

Werder manager Klaus Allofs appears pleased with his forward, but admitted that they may face a tough task in keeping him at Weserstadion.

"Claudio has made excellent progress but if it is only about money it will be difficult for us to keep him," Allofs said.

Pizarro has been strongly linked with a move to Internazionale, and £5 million is well within their price range.

A bonus for any Serie A club is that he holds an Italian passport, but it remains to be seen if he will leave the Bundesliga.

Werder, meanwhile, are close to the capture of Austrian midfielder Gernot Plassenger from Second Division Saarbrucken.

The two clubs have held preliminary talks and an offer could be close, as Werder see the 22-year-old as an ideal back-up for winger Marco Bode.