Swedish midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is set to receive a massive pay-off after being released by the club, according to reports.
Today's Standard claims that the club have reached a settlement with the 31-year-old former Arsenal player allowing him to effectively become a free agent, just one year into a three year deal at the Boleyn.Ljungberg, the paper claims, was being paid £85,000 per week and United have agreed to pay him £6million to cancel his contract - meaning that he will have cost the club £11million in wages for just 25 appearances - or £440,000 per game.
Rumours regarding Ljungberg's future have been rife since he failed to return to the club following his Euro 08 excursion with Sweden. It is said that he is currently back in his home country weighing up his options.
Alan Curbishley is understood to have told the former Swedish international captain that he was not in his first team plans for the forthcoming season; Ljungberg is said to have reacted to the news by insisting that he would remain at the club and see out the remaining two years of his lucrative contract regardless.
Ljungberg joined West Ham last summer in a move instigated by former Chairman Eggert Magnusson. It is thought that the deal was a major factor behind Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's decision to fire his fellow countryman last December.
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