Mallorca Locked In Aduriz Talks

The Balearic outfit have been scouring the market since letting their Spanish international goalscorer leave to join Fenerbahçe after Euro 2008 for around €15m.

Aduriz was pinpointed by Mallorca's sporting director Nando Pons and coach Gregorio Manzano as a substitute for Güiza and negotiations are set to continue next week.

Despite making an offer that Athletic will find difficult to turn down, Mallorca are not set to have everything their own way as Los Leones' president, Fernando Macua explained.

"We are in talks with Mallorca," he revealed. "Now we will have to see what will happen, but I do not think that we will reach an agreement quickly."

Mallorca are keen to make Aduriz their 12th signing of the summer and the player was left out of a recent friendly with Real Valladolid to ensure the avoided injury.

With such a star names as Fernando Navarro, Ariel Ibagaza, Jonás Gutiérrez, Güiza and Borja Valero all having left the ONO Estadi since the end of the season a major rebuilding plan has been under way.

A hos of new faces have arrived at the club and Aduriz would be the last piece in Manzano's jigsaw and the coach now has to ensure that all the newcomers gel.

Having initially moved to San Mamés in 2000, Aduriz spent just one season in the first team before moving to Burgos in 2003 and then on to Real Valladolid a season later.

In 2006, the 27-year-old returned to Athletic and has made 84 appearances since then and netted 22 goals, a ratio that Mallorca will hope he can improve on with them.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com