Soccer: Fulham spending spree starts with Koller

Fulham have started their summer spending spree after agreeing a club record fee of around £8m for Anderlecht's Jan Koller.

The Czech international striker will become the first major addition of the closed season to Jean Tigana's squad.

The Fulham manager has promised to turn his Division One championship-winning squad into more than just Premiership survivors.

The fee, set to at least double the club's current record mark of £4m paid to Newcastle for Alain Goma in March, will also demonstrate that club owner Mohamed Al Fayed means business.

The multi-millionaire has promised to continue to bankroll Fulham's march into the big time after financing their rapid rise from the lower leagues.

As if further evidence was needed of Al Fayed's intentions, Fulham have beaten off the challenge of German giants Borussia Dortmund to sign the powerful 6ft 8in hitman.

But Fulham managing director Michael Fiddy last night confirmed: "After long discussions we are delighted this fee has been agreed and we now look forward to discussing personal terms with the player."

Koller will play alongside lethal young Frenchman Louis Saha in the Cottagers' strikeforce next term so long as personal terms are agreed and the player passes a medical.

The Czech star, the Belgian league's player of the year for 2000, revealed: "It took a long time for Fulham to give me a contract but after a while I have reached an agreement."

Koller, the son of a Prague taxi driver, joined Anderlecht from Lokeren two years ago and has won two titles with Belgium's most famous club.

Anderlecht chairman Roger Vanden Stock revealed that the deal with Dortmund faltered when the German club backtracked on their offer.

"Dortmund lowered their offer after reading valuations in the Belgian press," he said.

"The Press is to blame. They announced amounts in the newspapers which made the Germans lower their offer."

Ranko Stojic, who according to reports has been acting for Fulham in their bid to sign the player, claimed Koller could arrive in London in the next 24 hours.

He revealed the west London club had faxed a new offer for the player which had quickly been accepted.

"I felt that Koller wanted to go to England and that's why Fulham made the extra effort possible," he added.

The transfer completes a remarkable turnaround as Koller had been quoted as saying he had made his mind up about a move to Germany.

He had announced: "I will be playing in the Champions League with Dortmund.

"Borussia gave me a very good impression. All I have to do now is wait for both Anderlecht and Dortmund to agree a fee, and then I will sign the paperwork."

Koller added: "I can make more money in Dortmund than at Fulham. The negotiations were quick and smooth. Everything was arranged in three hours."

Anderlecht secured the Belgian title last weekend, with a 1-0 home win over Mechelen.