Diego’s salary the key to Wolfsburg move

Former Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg are set to stretch their salary budget in a bid to sign Brazilian playmaker Diego, reports said Thursday.

Bild newspaper said the 2009 German league champions have already agreed on a 17 million transfer fee with Juventus for Diego, one million less than the Italian club’s asking price.

However the report added the deal could falter if Wolfsburg fail to meet Diego’s pay demands. Diego’s father, who is also his agent, was set to arrive in Turin Thursday for negotiations with representatives from Wolfsburg.

The German Bundelisga is not unfamiliar to Diego, who played three seasons with Werder Bremen in 2006-2009. The Brazilian failed to light up the Serie A in his first season in Italy with Juventus.

Wolfsburg, who finished eighth in the league last season, are aiming for an improlved result in the coming season under the helm of former England manager Steve McClaren.

McClaren has managed to retain the services of Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko, who became a target for several clubs after finishing the Bundesliga’s top scorer last season.