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CSKA land Lokomotiv starlet

PFC CSKA Sofia have paid PFC Lokomotiv Sofia €1m for highly-rated 21-year-old Emil Gargorov.

PFC CSKA Sofia's bid for a place in the first round of the UEFA Cup has been strengthened with the purchase of Emil Gargorov, the hottest young property in Bulgarian football, for €1m from PFC Lokomotiv Sofia.

Quality displays
Gargorov, the captain of the Bulgarian Under-21 side, will link up with his new team-mates today after signing a four-year contract with CSKA last night. The 21-year-old returned in the spring from a ten-month injury absence but his displays were of such high quality that he was voted young player of the year by his fellow professionals.

Second major purchase
A product of Lokomotiv's youth academy, Gargorov, a diminutive playmaker, represents CSKA's second major purchase of the summer after striker Velizar Dimitrov was tempted to the Balgarska Armia stadium. A number of other players have also arrived at the club, notably from Brazil and Argentina, as coach Stoycho Mladenov aims to satiate the fans' desire for a first title in five years.

UEFA Cup qualifying
CSKA were paired with FC Dinamo Minsk in UEFA Cup qualifying and will secure a place in the first round of the competition with an aggregate win against the Belarussian side. The first leg will be played in Minsk on 15 August with the return taking place in Bulgaria a fortnight later. The two clubs have never met in European competition but CSKA have disposed of Belarussian sides FC Belshina Bobruisk (1998/99) and Shakhtior Soligorsk(2001/02) in recent seasons.