Anzhi set to slash budget from $180 to $50-$70m.
Russian super-club Anzhi Makhachkala have transfer listed all their top-earning stars including Samuel Eto’o, Lassana Diarra and Willian, according to various media reports.
Anzhi sacked boss Rene Meulensteen, 49, after just 16 days at the helm on Wednesday, with the Dutchman’s departure believed to be part of a wider “reformatting” operation.
The former Manchester United assistant succeeded Guus Hiddink, who stepped down last month, but was dismissed after just two games, a draw and a defeat.
Gazdhi Gadzhiyev, who has previously managed Anzhi in three separate spells, will be reappointed boss for a fourth time, club director Konstantin Remchukov told Russian news service R-Sport.
Following Meulensteen’s departure, Remchukov also confirmed on twitter that Anzhi want to reduce their spending to between $50m and $70m per year, with reports suggesting they currently spend around $180m.
Главная новость состоит в том,что произойдет переформатирование Анжи.Многие дорогие игроки уйдут,бюджет будет на уровне $50-70 млн в год
— Konstantin Remchukov (@KVRemchukov) August 7, 2013
According to Dutch source Voetbal international, top earning stars like Eto’o will therefore be sold, while Sovsport.ru claims Russian internationals Igor Denisov and Yuri Khirkov will be allowed to leave.
The scaling down comes after Anzhi owner, Suleiman Kerimov – Russia’s 19th richest man with a reported fortune of $7bn – took an estimated $375m hit on his shares in fertiliser giant Uralkali.
Since buying Anzhi in 2011, Kerimov has spent over $200m on players, including Brazilian winger Willian, who arrived for £30m from Shakhtar Donetsk and Cameroonian striker Eto’o, who is reportedly the best paid player in the world.
Willian has previously been linked with Chelsea and Tottenham.
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