LONDON—West Ham are willing to release Australian captain Lucas Neill in the January transfer window, a British newspaper says.
Although the 30-year-old defender has six months left on his contract, the cash-strapped English Premier League club would off-load him to another club without a transfer fee to cut their wage bill, The Sun reported on Friday.
Neill, who signed for Stg1.5 million ($A3.1 million) from Blackburn two years ago, earns a reported basic salary of up to Stg70,000 ($A145,000) a week.
He has, according to the paper, attracted an inquiry from Galatasaray, where compatriot Harry Kewell has enjoyed a resurgence since joining the Turkish side at the start of the season.
But Neill was expected to see out the remainder of his contract at Upton Park before moving on in mid-2009.
Last month, Neill said he had no plans to leave the east London club, which is up for sale after its owner, Icelandic businessman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, fell victim to the global credit crunch.
At the time, Neill told Sky Sports in Britain: "I've had assurances from the manager that he wants me to stay."