Sparta seal Homola deal

AC Sparta Praha's winter shopping spree has continued apace with the signing of defender Jirí Homola from FK Jablonec 97.

Kotrba reunion
The tall 22-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half year contract, having previously placed under Sparta coach Jirí Kotrba at Jablonec. He is the cousin of Tomás Skuhravý, who scored five goals for Czechoslovakia on their way to the 1990 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.

'Strong in the air'
Kotrba said of Homola: "He is strong in the air, like [Hamburger SV's] Milan Fukal, who also came to the Letná stadium as an unknown player." However, he may need to improve his discipline having been booked seven times so far this season.

Third signing
Homola becomes Sparta's third recent signing after the arrivals of West Ham United FC's Vladimír Labant and FC Príbram's Pavel Pergl. Negotiations with Reggina Calcio over the addition of Martin Jiránek will continue next week. Midfield player Jirí Jarosík recently left the club for PFC CSKA Moskva in a Russian record €3.7m deal.

Four-point advantage
Sparta are four points clear at the top of the Czech first division, which resumes on 16 Feburary.