French moneybags AS Monaco FC have completed the loan signing of Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov until the end of the season.
Berbatov, 33, was linked with a January move to former club Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week but Les Rouge et Blanc swooped for the Bulgarian ace, having lost star man Radamel Falcao to a season-ending knee injury.
The out-of-favour Bulgaria international, who joined Fulham from Manchester United on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee in August 2012, bagged four goals in 18 English Premier League starts for the Cottagers this season.
Greece striker Kostas Mitroglou, who agreed a four-and-a-half year deal with Fulham on Friday, has replaced Berbatov at Craven Cottage, while the club have also agreed to take Lewis Holtby on loan from Tottenham.
“I’m happy, excited and a little bit nervous to be honest. I look forward to start training with my new team-mates and open a new chapter in my career,” Berbatov told the club’s official website, asm-fc.com.
Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev added: “Dimitar will bring us all his experience and talent. His coming is of course connected to the Radamel Falcao’s injury.
“He played in big clubs as Manchester United and he’s a big striker. We still have two competitions to play and he will be an asset with Emmanuel Rivière, Valère Germain and Anthony Martial.
He has a different profile than our others forwards.”
Monaco (14-6-2) — priced at 11/2 to win Ligue 1 — will travel to the Stade du Moustoir to face 10th-placed Lorient (9-4-9) on Saturday, 1 February 2014.
Dani Osvaldo to Juve
Southampton forward Dani Osvaldo has joined Italian Serie A champions on loan for the remainder of the season.
It did not take long for the 28-year-old Italy international to become unsettled at St Mary’s. In fact, Osvaldo wanted out inside of four weeks, according to reports.
The hotheaded forward has finally been granted his wish, a return to Italy.
“Juventus Football Club can today confirm that terms have been agreed with Southampton Football Club on a free loan deal for Pablo Daniel Osvaldo,” read a statement on the Bianconeri’s official website.
“The agreement also includes the option, to be exercised before 31 May 2014, for the purchase of the player’s full registration rights at the price of €19 million, to be paid over the course of three years.”
Following his club record €15.1 million transfer from A.S. Roma, Dani Osvaldo netted just three goals in 13 league appearances, including nine starts, for the Saints in 2013/14.
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