Lokeren deny Zítka departure

Sporting Lokeren St-Niklaas Waasland have dismissed reports that goalkeeper Daniel Zítka has signed a four-year contract with RSC Anderlecht.

Zitka to stay put
It was reported on Friday that Zítka was planning to move to the Belgian champions on free transfer at the end of the season but Patrick Orlans, press officer at Lokeren, was keen to point out that the Czech goalkeeper will stay with Lokeren. 

’Not valid’
“We heard that Daniel signed a four-year deal with Anderlecht, but there is a problem," Orlans said. "Daniel still has a two-year contract with us after this season. There was a two-year option in the contract he had with us until the end of this season. So, to us, the situation is very clear. Daniel Zítka is with us for two more years. His contract with Anderlecht is not valid."

Zitka in turmoil
Anderlecht's general manager Michel Verschueren was reluctant to comment on the matter. "This is a free transfer," he stated. "We've seen his contract with Lokeren and it runs out in the summer of 2002."

First choice
Should Zítka move to Anderlecht he wouldn't automatically get the number one jersey, as Filip de Wilde, Zvonko Milojevic, Zeljko Pavlovic and Tristan Peersman are already contracted to the club. Verschueren added: "We are going to have to get rid of one or two. De Wilde is definitely staying, though. He is our first choice."