STEVE Archibald's place in the Easter Road dressing room could be
taken by Ronnie Rosenthal, the Israeli international striker, who
arrived in Edinburgh last night prepared to show Hibernian what he can
do for them and anxious to learn what they can do for him, writes James
Traynor.
Should Hibs like what they see as 26-year-old Rosenthal trains with
them for a couple of days, it will not then be simply a matter of
signing him. It is believed his club, Standard Liege, want #500,000 for
his transfer.
Rosenthal has played 30 times for Israel, but he has been in and out
of his Belgian club side. He has scored six times this season, and is
regarded as a quick and aggressive sort of player.
While Hibs might have a problem raising the money required for
Rosenthal, the Spanish club, Espanol, had no trouble dealing with the
demands of Archibald, who last week bought out the remainder of his
Easter Road contract. They told the striker to go away and re-evaluate
his worth.
Archibald, now 33, who is wanted by Barcelona's junior club to replace
Uruguayan midfield player Zalazar, asked for a contract for the
remainder of this season and all of next, a car, a house, and the
refunding of his pay-off to Hibs as well any tax due.
Lengthy negotiations took place, Archibald dropped his terms, and he
underwent a medical yesterday. If all is well, he will sign today,
although his contract is for the remainder of this season only.
Whether or not he is offered a contract for next season depends on how
he plays between now and July. However, if he helps Espanol, fourth in
the second division, to win promotion, he will given a bonus.
Unlikely to play again for some time is Scott Nisbet of Rangers, who
has damaged a cartilage. The defender is out of contract at the end of
the season and although he normally is on the fringes of the first team,
he will not be forgotten. Assistant manager Walter Smith said yesterday
that there would be a place for Nisbet at Ibrox.
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