Venables swoops for Lucic

Leeds United have signed Swedish international defender Teddy Lucic on loan from AIK Solna for rest of this season.

Leeds earlier completed the £7million sale of Robbie Keane to Tottenham and manager Terry Venables responded by securing the versatile Lucic.

The 6ft 2in 29-year-old, who is mainly a centre back but can play anywhere across the back four, played in all Sweden’s games during the World Cup including the 1-1 against England when

Venables was working as an ITV summariser.

Lucic, who has played for IFK Gothenburg and also had a spell with Bologna in Serie A from 1998-99, has won 47 caps for Sweden and gives Venables experienced cover in defence.

Venables has been linked with a string of defenders since the £30million sale of Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United, including Aston Villa’s Alpay and Middlesbrough’s Gareth Southgate.