The mayor of the western town of Lupeni in Romania is offering the top player of his second division football team in exchange for a gas pipeline, ananova.com reports.

The report said that mayor Cornel Rasmerita, who is also the head of the Minerul football team disclosed that he is willing to sell his key goalkeeper Christian Belgradean to first division team Jiul for something his town needs.

Jiul is owned by a rich businessman and will study the proposal to construct a gas pipeline in Lupeni to acquire the goalie.

Rasmerita told ananova.com, "I know our keeper is wanted by a number of top clubs but I am willing to let him go to Jiul if the club's owner makes a Ł216,000 investment in a gas pipe that my town needs so much."

The executives of Jiul has yet to respond to the offer although reports said it was not unusual in Romania for football players to be exchanged for goods.

Previous deals have seen players swapped for half a pig and two sets of goalposts and a crate of wine.