It looks like the new British Team Sky is throwing their hat into the ring in a bid for reigning Tour de France champion Alberto Contador. Contador's brother, who also manages the two-time Tour winner, told the Guardian that they have had discussions with representatives from the team, but declined to give any details.
Contador is still under contract with the Kazakh-backed team through 2010, but has expressed interest in leaving Astana despite the rumored four-year 16 million euro offer. It's clear that the Tour winner is not confident that the team can support his bid for a third crown next July.
Should Astana have their ProTour status revoked, the legal bind that Contador has found himself in would come to an end, allowing him to move across to another squad. He has already been in talks with Garmin-Slipstream, Caisse d'Epargne, and Quick Step, with all negotiations deadlocked by the rider's current contract situation.
However, Team Sky's greatest interest is in British rider Bradley Wiggins, who is under contract with Garmin-Slipstream for 2010. But if Astana's ProTour license is revoked there could be case of musical chairs that would see Contador go to the American team, subsequently allowing Wiggins to break free of his contract for a move to Sky.
"El Pistolero" told the Guardian, "Towards the end of this year's Tour Wiggins was very dangerous. In 2010 I think he will be even more dangerous." The real question is whether Team Sky will be in a position to defend a yellow jersey in 2010 whether it be for the Spaniard or home talent Wiggins.