City close on Isaksson
13 Aug 2006 - 11:05:20
Manchester City are close to completing the signing of Sweden international goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson.
The 24-year-old will join the Citizens this week in a £2million deal from French side Rennes, taking the place of David James, who has left City to join Portsmouth.
Isaksson confirmed his imminent move, saying: "This is a big step forward for me.
"It will be significantly better opponents than in the French league and I have to raise myself another level if I want to do well.
"It is a tougher game in the Premier League. The goalkeepers aren't as protected as we are in other leagues and you have to be aware of that.
"But Stuart Pearce believes in me a lot. He and the club seem to know exactly of what they are buying."
City boss Pearce added: "I feel as though I've got a goalkeeper of the right age with 40-odd caps.
"All things considered I think we've got a good one on our hands."
