Alan D
28 Dec 2005, 05:01 PM
City line up Spanish swoop
By Mark Kendall - Created on 28 Dec 2005
Manchester City are hoping to arrange a loan swoop for Espanyol midfielder Albert Riera.
The 23-year-old operates on the left side of midfield but has failed to establish himself at Espanyol since a summer switch from Bordeaux.
The Catalans paid €3 million (£2 million) to land the former Mallorca man, but he has made just seven appearances in total this term with his last league start coming back in mid-November.
As a result Riera is now ready to leave to get some minutes under his belt and Espanyol boss Miguel Angel Lotina believes a move is in his best interests.
The Primera outfit's board have yet to decide whether to sanction Riera's departure, but with the wide man on a substantial salary they might well decide it is in the best interests of everyone concerned to let him leave.
Any transfer to Eastlands would be on a loan basis with the player joining until the end of the season.
However, City want to insert an option to make the switch permanent should Riera impress during his time in England, with the fee likely to be set around £2 million.
It is understood a clutch of Premiership clubs were interested in Riera, but City have moved to the front of the queue and have already asked Espanyol to name the financial conditions of any loan.
Although there is still some way to go before a deal is finalised, it seems Stuart Pearce is eager to add some competition for places to his midfield and Riera would challenge the likes of Kiki Musampa and Trevor Sinclair for a first-team spot.
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http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=348567&CPID=23&clid=&channel=skysports_home_page
By Mark Kendall - Created on 28 Dec 2005
Manchester City are hoping to arrange a loan swoop for Espanyol midfielder Albert Riera.
The 23-year-old operates on the left side of midfield but has failed to establish himself at Espanyol since a summer switch from Bordeaux.
The Catalans paid €3 million (£2 million) to land the former Mallorca man, but he has made just seven appearances in total this term with his last league start coming back in mid-November.
As a result Riera is now ready to leave to get some minutes under his belt and Espanyol boss Miguel Angel Lotina believes a move is in his best interests.
The Primera outfit's board have yet to decide whether to sanction Riera's departure, but with the wide man on a substantial salary they might well decide it is in the best interests of everyone concerned to let him leave.
Any transfer to Eastlands would be on a loan basis with the player joining until the end of the season.
However, City want to insert an option to make the switch permanent should Riera impress during his time in England, with the fee likely to be set around £2 million.
It is understood a clutch of Premiership clubs were interested in Riera, but City have moved to the front of the queue and have already asked Espanyol to name the financial conditions of any loan.
Although there is still some way to go before a deal is finalised, it seems Stuart Pearce is eager to add some competition for places to his midfield and Riera would challenge the likes of Kiki Musampa and Trevor Sinclair for a first-team spot.
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http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=348567&CPID=23&clid=&channel=skysports_home_page