Southampton suffer double setback
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
Article summary
News round up: Southampton FC duo Marians Pahars and Matthew Oakley could miss the start of the season.
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Southampton FC
VfL Wolfsburg striker Fernando Baiano has returned to Brazil after failing to secure a permanent transfer to the Bundesliga. The 25-year-old scored eleven goals in 22 appearances for Wolfsburg last season. However, the German club refused to meet CR Flamengo's reported €3m asking price for Baiano, who has now joined AD São Caetano.
Serie A newcomers ACF Fiorentina have signed Chilean attacking midfield player Jaime Valdés from Serie C1 outfit AS Bari for an undisclosed fee. The 22-year-old, who arrives on a four-year deal, has played in the Italian top flight before, making eight appearances in 2000 as Bari were relegated.
RC Lens have signed French midfield player Alou Diarra on a one-year loan. The 23-year-old joined Liverpool FC on a five-year contract in July 2002, but is yet to make his debut for the Premiership team, spending his first season on loan at Le Havre AC before playing for SC Bastia last term.
Brøndby IF striker Peter Foldgast has joined 2. Bundesliga side SC Rot-Weiss Essen for an undisclosed fee. The 24-year-old has agreed a two-year contract. Foldgast scored four goals in 25 games for the Danish team last season, though over half were from the substitutes' bench.
Belgium's R. Excelsior Mouscron have recruited Stejpan Skocjbusic and Ricardo Magro. Croatian defender Skocjbusic, 25, arrives from HNK Hajduk Split, while 22-year-old striker Magro moves from RAA Louviéroise. Both have penned two-year deals.
Elsewhere in Belgium, RAEC Mons have signed French defender Eric Rabésandratana from UEFA Cup challengers LB Châteauroux. The 31-year-old former AS Nancy-Lorraine, Paris Saint-Germain FC and AEK Athens FC player has accepted a two-year contract.
Former AZ Alkmaar midfield player Arno Schaap has died of a heart attack aged 29. Playing for Dutch amateur club FC Hilversum, Schaap collapsed midway through a match and failed to regain consciousness. A product of the Feyenoord youth system, he played professionally for SVV Dordrecht, Alkmaar and Helmond Sport.
