Campbell 'considering' Fenerbahce

Sol Campbell was yesterday reported to be seriously considering a transfer to the Turkish club Fenerbahce in the summer.

The England and Arsenal defender, who is currently training with the national team in their World Cup base in Baden-Baden, was quoted in the Turkish daily newspaper Vatan as saying: "The probability of me joining Fenerbahce is very high."

However, it seems likely that should Campbell leave the Gunners, he would prefer to move to a more prestigious league than the Turkish First Division. He will also not have had much contact with the outside world while he has been concentrating on winning a World Cup starting spot from either John Terry or Rio Ferdinand.

Campbell is reported to have added: "[It is] not because they've offered me a lot of money, but because they have challenged me. Everything will be clearer after the World Cup.

"It is obvious that they are considering me seriously," the 31-year-old said. "They made me a good and full offer. We are progressing step by step. I will give my decision after the World Cup but the probability of me joining Fenerbahce is bigger than that of refusing the offer."

The defender's Arsenal career looked in doubt after he was substituted and left Highbury midway through a Premiership game against West Ham United on 1 February.

His return to the team in April was hampered by injury - he suffered a broken nose on his comeback game at Portsmouth - but he found his best form towards the end of the season and scored for Arsène Wenger's team in their 2-1 Champions' League final defeat at the hands of Barcelona.

Campbell has visited Istanbul to play against the national team for England, and he was apparently impressed by what he saw on that visit. "I know that Fenerbahce is the club which has the best conditions in Turkey," he said. "Fenerbahce is a club with very high ambitions and has interesting potential.

"After stories in Turkey were first written about me, all my Turkish friends in London spoke to me. I got information on Fenerbahce and Istanbul from them. Since I am at the World Cup, I am still thinking.

"I believe Fenerbahce are also still thinking. I will give my final decision after the World Cup. It might be interesting for me to play for Fenerbahce. But we need to return a victory for England first. That's all I want right now."