Striker Le Cong Vinh. — Photo vietnamnet

HA NOI (VNS) — V-League side Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) has chosen not to renew its contract with striker Le Cong Vinh due to financial difficulties, according to SLNA Football Joint Stock Company's general director Nguyen Hong Thanh.

"Vinh is ready to stay with SLNA, but financial limitations mean that we can't keep him," Thanh said.

The Nghe An-born striker Vinh said he was available to play for a new side, with his contract with SLNA ending last month.

One insider has said that Japan's Consadole Sapporo FC and a South Korean club are vying for the player.

Vinh, who is widely considered one of the best players in Southeast Asia, used to play for Sapporo FC under a loan contract two years ago.

The three-time Vietnamese Golden Ball player ranked No 5 on goal.com's top ten most promising youngsters in Asian football. — VNS