Ace German defender on Jets radar

COACH Clayton Zane is hopeful of adding dual World Cup-winning German international Ariane Hingst to his Newcastle Jets W-League squad.

The Jets, who announced the signing of Matildas captain and goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri on Friday, are in talks with the 32-year-old defender or midfielder who retired from international football after this year’s World Cup in Germany.

Hingst is Germany’s third-most capped player, making 173 national team appearances.

The Jets are believed to be confident of securing her services ahead of Brisbane Roar, but Zane said it was not a done deal yet.

‘‘We’ve had some dialogue with her about the possibility of her coming out, but I think there are another one or two clubs in the picture,’’ Zane said.

The Jets are also hoping to sign charismatic Australian striker Lisa De Vanna.

The 26-year-old Perth product is playing with American Women’s Professional Soccer club magicJack, a team based in Boca Raton, Florida.

She is sidelined with a medial ligament strain but Zane said De Vanna would be fit for the start of the W-League season in a month if she elected to go around.

‘‘With her it’s more about whether she plays in the W-League, because she’s come off such a long stint,’’ he said.

‘‘She’s been playing in America and she’s had the Asian Cup so she might want to bypass the W-League.’’

Zane hoped to convince De Vanna to play a part in the Jets’ 10-week season and expected a response in the next few days.

source: http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/ace-ge...