City boss Glenn Roeder admitted today it is highly unlikely Bulgarian international Valentin Iliev will complete a move to join the Canaries.The current CSKA Sofia defender has impressed during a trial at Colney this week and reports had suggested a permanent transfer was imminent.
City boss Glenn Roeder admitted today it is highly unlikely Bulgarian international Valentin Iliev will complete a move to join the Canaries.
The current CSKA Sofia defender has impressed during a trial at Colney this week and reports had suggested a permanent transfer was imminent.
However, Roeder said any deal would be scuppered by trying to gain a work permit for the 28-year-old, who has 11 caps for Bulgaria.
“He's a decent player,” said Roeder. “He's performed well in practice and in a practice game. But unfortunately because of work permit issues he's unlikely to join us and this would be the same for any other English club trying to sign him.”
The news intensifies Roeder's search for a new centre-back and any deal for Martin Taylor make take a new twist following this weekend.
Taylor, who was on-loan at Norwich earlier in the season, has been included in Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish's squad to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in their Premier League e's Hefixture on Saturday.
Although the defender's exit from St Andrews is still on the cards, the match could give Taylor the chance to impress his current manager and any interested onlookers.
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