Lens come in for Kovačević

FK Crvena Zvezda captain Nenad Kovačević has joined fellow UEFA Cup contenders RC Lens for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year contract in France.

Crvena Zvezda clear-out
The 25-year-old Serbian international midfielder has become the fourth first-teamer to leave the Belgrade side in recent days following their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round defeat by AC Milan. Boško Janković departed for RCD Mallorca, Nikola Žigić has gone to Real Racing Club Santander, while Milan Biševac is also moving to Lens.

Financial realities
"It is a difficult situation, but we must stay alive," said Crvena Zvezda president Dragan Stojković. "The only way for us to do that is through the transfer market and I am so sorry. We have lost four players. I know it is too much, but we will try to find new strength from the domestic field."

'That's life'
While Biševac is due to play for Crvena Zvezda until December before making a permanent switch to Ligue 1, Kovačević will link up with Lens after Serbia's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Poland on 6 September. "That's life," said Kovačević. "I was waiting for a good transfer and finally I found a very good club. I am satisfied."