Eintracht Frankfurt striker Rob Friend has insisted that he will not be forced out of the German club after being told that he can leave.
The 31-year-old has a contract with the club until June 2014, but it is understood that he has the chance to leave on a free transfer in January.
"Eintracht should forget about getting rid of me just for the sake of saving money. I have the desire to respect my existing contract. I am already 31 years of age. I could have joined clubs in foreign countries recently," he told Bild.
"But I definitely would have earned less money then, even though I was about to be granted a free transfer. Eintracht manager Armin Veh has told me I am a surplus. This is clearly disappointing."
Friend has been linked with a number of Championship clubs in the past.