Manninger in Espanyol switch

Spanish Primera División club RCD Espanyol have signed Austrian goalkeeper Alex Manninger from English FA Premiership champions Arsenal FC.

Frustrating time
Espanyol paid a reported €1.5m for the 25-year-old Manninger, who has signed a four-year deal with the Barcelona club. Manninger moved to Arsenal from Austrian side Grazer AK in June 1997 as understudy to David Seaman but, despite a first-team run when the English international goalkeeper injured his back in 1999, he never won a regular starting place in the team and moved to AC Fiorentina on loan last season.

Argenso competition
He will now compete with Alfredo Argenso for the goalkeeping position at Espanyol, who finished 14th in the Primera División in 2001/02. Meanwhile, Seaman has been offered a new contract at Arsenal.