Rasiak makes Saints switch

Tottenham misfit Grzegorz Rasiak has joined Southampton on loan for the rest of the season with a view to a permanent move in the summer.

The Polish striker joins up again with Saints head coach George Burley, under whom he played at Derby.

He has signed a three-month contract at St Mary’s and will then complete a guaranteed £2million move.

The 27-year-old, who Burley signed on a free transfer from Siena before selling him on to Spurs for £2m (€2.9m), has endured a frustrating spell at White Hart Lane, starting just five games under Martin Jol and failing to find the net.

“It was hard for me at Tottenham because I did not play much and I need to be playing regularly ready for the World Cup,” he told the club’s official website, www.saintsfc.co.uk.

“But that is a long way off and now I have to concentrate on helping Southampton, starting with a big game at Reading on Friday.”

Burley, who this morning also completed the loan capture of West Brom midfielder Richard Chaplow, added: “I am delighted to have got Rasiak and he will give the squad a huge lift. He has great pedigree. He got 19 goals for me at Derby last season.

“He has outstanding ability. He is a good goalscorer, strong in the air and his touch is very good.”

Saints had hoped to land Rasiak during the January transfer window, but Jol was unwilling to release him while Mido was on African Nations Cup duty in Egypt.

“We can only sign him on loan now but we have agreed to sign him in the summer,” added Burley.