Sunday, January 27, 2008

Pompey snap up ex-Villa striker Baros on loan

Portsmouth have completed the signing of former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Milan Baros on loan until the end of the season.Baros, 26, joins from French side Lyon and Pompey have also secured an option to buy the Czech Republic forward if the move is a success.

Boss Harry Redknapp has been eager to secure reinforcements up front since the transfer window opened due to the loss of Kanu and John Utaka to African Nations Cup duty.Baros passed a medical at Fratton Park today and will begin training on the south coast tomorrow.

'It's a terrific opportunity to have a look at him,' Redknapp told the club's website, portsmouthfc.co.uk.

'It's a loan deal until the end of the season and then we'll see how it goes from there.'

Baros has failed to make an impact with Lyon and has found himself out of favour out of favour at the Stade Gerland.But Redknapp is convinced he has signed a player of real quality.

'He's a good player who has played at Liverpool and Aston Villa - and he's been the golden boot winner at a European Championships,' he added.

'He's got pace and he makes good runs.'

Baros' arrival could spell bad news for fellow forward David Nugent, who has endured a difficult start to his Barclays Premier League career.

He arrived from Preston in the summer for over £6million but he was soon linked with a move away from the club and has only got back into the first XI since the departure of Kanu and Utaka to Ghana.Baros now looks likely to leap ahead of the England international and stake his claim to build a partnership with 12-goal leading scorer Benjani Mwaruwari.

He is Redknapp's third signing this month, joining former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra and French defender Lucien Aubey.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

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